China has announced visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals starting 17 February. Visitors from these countries can stay in mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa. The new rule covers tourism, business, and visits to family or friends. China's foreign ministry confirmed the policy will last initially until 31 December. This follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China last month, where he and President Xi Jinping agreed to relax travel rules. Sir Keir said, "British businesses had been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China." He believes the agreement will help businesses expand in China. Critics caution that the UK government's efforts to restore ties risk ignoring human rights and security issues. The visa-free policy matches rules already given to around 50 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Australia, and Japan. About 620,000 British people are expected to visit China in 2024. During his visit, Sir Keir and Xi agreed to boost trade in services, healthcare, green technology, and finance, though no free trade deal was made. Opposition figures criticized the visit, and concerns were raised over the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London, which some fear could be a spying concern.