New UK-China services partnership – What’s in it for tech?

The United Kingdom and China have announced a new services partnership intended to support UK businesses operating in China, including a commitment by Beijing to extend visa-free access for short stays.  

Under the announcement, the United Kingdom will be added to China’s visa-free list, enabling travel of up to 30 days for business and tourism without a visa. Further detail, including the start date and operational guidance for business travellers, has not yet been confirmed. 

The partnership is positioned around closer cooperation in priority services sectors such as healthcare, financial and professional services, legal services, and education and skills. These are areas where UK firms can encounter regulatory and administrative frictions, including licensing requirements, market access constraints, and inconsistent or opaque implementation at local level.  

The two sides have also agreed to undertake a feasibility study to explore potential negotiations towards a bilateral services agreement. If pursued, a formal agreement could provide clearer, more predictable rules for UK service suppliers, including on market access, regulatory transparency, and fair treatment. 

In parallel, the United Kingdom and China have signed additional pacts covering cooperation on conformity assessment for exports and the work of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO). The parties have indicated that they do not plan to publish the full texts of these pacts at the moment. 

techUK will engage closely with the Government to understand practical implications for UK digital and services exporters and will update members when we know more.  

To learn more about our UK-China Tech Forum work, please contact daniel.clarke@techuk.org