Britain introduces new visa for Chinese to attract tourists and businessmen
Chancellor moves to improve relations with Beijing after rift over Dalai Lama
British Chancellor George Osborne today heralded the “next big step” in Britain’s relationship with Beijing when he unveiled a new visa system to make it easier for Chinese business leaders and rich tourists to visit the UK.
In a sign of Downing Street’s determination to reset relations with Beijing, which unofficially downgraded Britain’s status after David Cameron met the Dalai Lama last year, the finance minister told an audience in the Chinese capital that no country in the west is more keen to attract Chinese investment than Britain.
Osborne, who began a five-day trade mission to China yesterday, told students at Beijing University: “I don’t want us to try to resist your economic progress, I want Britain to share in it.
“And I want, this week, us all to take the next big step in the relationship between Britain and China. Because more jobs and investment in China mean more jobs and investment in Britain. And that equals better lives for all.”
As a first step the finance minister announced that Britain will make it easier for Chinese business leaders to visit the UK by introducing a 24-hour “super priority” visa service.
In the biggest step, Osborne announced a separate pilot scheme that will allow selected Chinese travel agents to apply for UK visas simply by submitting the application form used for the EU Schengen visa.
