VISA DEAL
Starmer signed a collection of cooperation agreements after assembly Premier Li Qiang, with Downing Avenue saying Beijing had agreed to visa-free journey for British passport holders visiting China for below 30 days.
That brings Britain in keeping with about 50 different nations allowed visa-free entry, together with France, Germany, Australia and Japan, and follows an analogous settlement made between China and Canada this month.
The agreements additionally included cooperation on concentrating on provide chains utilized by migrant smugglers, in addition to on British exports to China, well being and strengthening a UK-China commerce fee.
The difficulty of irregular migrants is very delicate for Starmer, who has promised to crack down on individuals smugglers and stem a wave of arrivals that has fuelled rising help for the far proper.
Starmer will even journey to financial powerhouse Shanghai on Friday earlier than making a short cease in Japan to satisfy Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Beijingers advised AFP that Starmer’s journey, in addition to latest visits by different Western leaders, confirmed elevated want for financial cooperation with China.
Resident Xie Yu, who lived in London as a graduate pupil, mentioned European economies have been hit exhausting by Trump’s tariffs and have been “struggling”.
Xie mentioned he hoped extra Chinese language would have the possibility to review overseas as he did.
“Exchanges between younger individuals can assist be a basis for general ties between the 2 nations sooner or later.”
