China has officially announced that citizens from Canada and the United Kingdom can now travel to the country without a visa starting this Tuesday. This decision followed visits to Beijing by the leaders of both countries, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Mark Carney, in January. The purpose of their visits was to strengthen ties with China and shift focus away from the United States.
During their meetings with top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made. One of the outcomes was the agreement to allow visa-free entry for their citizens into China. The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed this development on Sunday, stating that Canadian and British passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to China until December 31.
According to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry, individuals holding ordinary passports from these nations can enter China without a visa for various purposes such as business, tourism, visiting family and friends, exchanges, or transit for up to 30 days. This move aims to enhance people-to-people interactions between China and other countries.