1 of 2 | British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is greeted by a guard of honor after he arrived for a state visit to China in Beijing, China, on Jan. 28. Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 29, in Beijing. It was the first trip to China by a British prime minister since 2018. Photo by Lauren Hurley/EPA
China has opened visa-free entry for travelers from Canada and Britain can enter China through Dec. 31.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that it is loosening its rules for travel from Canada and Britain, matching its rules for 50 other countries.
The decision by China follows trade discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month. Starmer said visa-free travel would open up opportunities to expand business in China.
While Starmer pushed for improving the relationship between Britain and China, critics have raised concerns about overlooking human rights abuses and national security concerns with China.
About 620,000 people traveled from Britain to China in 2024, Britain’s Office of National Statistics said.
Carney’s visit to China last month led to Canada allowing tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada. China agreed to lower tariffs on Canadian canola seed, opening its $4 billion canola seed market to Canadian producers beginning on March 1. It is expected to reduce tariffs on canola meal, lobsters, crabs and peas from Canada through the end of the year.
China has loosened its travel restrictions to many countries since 2022 in an attempt to boost tourism after heightened restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diplomatic relations between China and Canada continued to lag despite loosening restrictions elsewhere. China has also limited travel to Canada by Chinese tourism groups.
Sunday’s announcement changes course for China, allowing Canadians to bypass an otherwise arduous application process that costs about $140 in fees.
