China to ‘actively consider’ unilateral visa-free entry for UK citizens, Xi tells Starmer

By Saadet Gokce and Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday that Beijing is willing to “actively consider” granting unilateral visa-free entry for British citizens.

“Both sides should enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and further facilitate travel,” Xi said during the 90-minute meeting in Beijing, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

China has implemented visa-free entry for dozens of countries, granting unilateral visa-free access to 48 nations.

Starmer’s visit marks the first time a British prime minister has traveled to China since 2018 and comes amid tensions over US tariffs, as well as strains among Western allies over issues including US ambitions in Greenland.

The British prime minister is accompanied by around 60 leaders from the business, academic, and cultural sectors.

Xi also called on both countries to jointly advocate and practice true multilateralism “as supporters for multilateralism and free trade.”

“International law can only be truly effective when all countries abide by it,” he said, adding that major countries “should take the lead in particular, otherwise, the world would risk regressing into the law of jungle.”

The Chinese president also urged London and Beijing to make global governance “more just and equitable” and to work toward an “equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization,” according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

He also called for cooperation in sectors such as education, medicare, finance and services, as well as joint research and industrial transformation in areas including artificial intelligence, bioscience, new energy and low-carbon technologies.

During the meeting, Starmer gifted Xi the football used during last weekend’s English Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal, according to the BBC. Xi is reportedly a fan of Manchester United.

This is the first trip to China by a British prime minister in eight years, which is “far too long,” Starmer told Xi during the meeting.

Separately, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the two leaders held a “successful meeting” during a news conference earlier on Thursday.

“The two leaders agreed that China and the UK will develop a long-term and consistent, comprehensive strategic partnership. This reflects the two sides latest aspiration for China-UK relations, and also provides a sound and stable expectation for cooperation between various sectors of the two sides,” he said.

Taiwan and Hong Kong were also discussed during the meeting, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout.

London’s long-standing policy on Taiwan remains unchanged and will not change, the readout said. The UK does not recognize Taiwan as a state or maintain diplomatic relations with it.

Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability are in the common interest of both countries, and the UK welcomes Hong Kong as “a unique and important bridge” between the two countries, it added.

The leaders also discussed the Ukraine crisis, along with other international and regional issues.