China Confirms Visa-Free Access for UK & Canada from Feb 17 📈

• Overall Policy: China’s foreign ministry has announced visa-free entry for citizens of the UK and Canada starting February 17, 2026. Travelers can stay for up to 30 days for tourism, business, or family visits. • Timeline & Scope: The policy is initially set to remain in effect until December 31. This move aligns the UK and Canada with 50 other nations, including Japan, Australia, and several EU members. • Economic Context: The relaxation follows a diplomatic reset between PM Sir Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping. While no formal Free Trade Agreement was reached, both nations agreed to deepen ties in services, healthcare, green technology, and finance. • Market Impact: • Facilitates easier expansion for British and Canadian businesses into the Chinese market. • Significant scale: Approximately 620,000 UK nationals traveled to China in 2024 alone. • Focus on "people-to-people exchanges" to boost tourism and investment flows. • Note: This decision follows the approval of a new Chinese embassy in London, despite local concerns regarding national security.