Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer secured a landmark diplomatic victory during the first visit by a British leader to China in eight years. Following an 80-minute meeting with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing announced it will grant unilateral visa-free entry for UK citizens visiting for up to 30 days. This move, which applies to both tourists and business travelers, brings the UK in line with 50 other nations including France and Germany. While a specific start date is pending, the agreement aims to simplify travel for the approximately 620,000 British residents who visit China annually.
🇬🇧 🇨🇳 British PM says ‘good progress’ with China on whisky tariffs, visas
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer says “really good progress” has been made on issues including whisky tariffs and visa-free travel after meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. pic.twitter.com/JvhnudUmUy
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 29, 2026
The visit yielded immediate economic concessions, most notably a 50% reduction in import tariffs on Scotch whisky, which will drop from 10% to 5%. This cut is estimated to be worth £250 million to the UK economy over the next five years. Additionally, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced a staggering $15 billion (£10.9 billion) investment in China through 2030 to expand its R&D and manufacturing footprint. The Prime Minister also finalized a border security pact to disrupt the supply of Chinese-made small boat engines, which reportedly accounted for over 60% of the equipment used by English Channel smuggling gangs last year.
You May Like To Read: Basant Tradition, Safety, and the New Rules for a Joyful Celebration
Despite the “sophisticated” new partnership, Starmer faced criticism from the Conservative opposition for “kowtowing” to Beijing amid ongoing concerns over national security and human rights. The PM maintained that he raised contentious issues, including the jailing of Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur minority. In a lighter moment, Starmer gifted President Xi, a reported Manchester United fan, a football used in the recent match against Arsenal, while receiving a copper horse statue in return.
Check out our latest video:
