29 Jan 2026
by Daniel Clarke

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 [email protected] 

Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK


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Meet the team 

Sabina Ciofu

Sabina Ciofu

International Policy and Strategy Lead, techUK

Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Senior Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade, techUK

Theophile Maiziere

Theophile Maiziere

Policy Manager - EU, techUK

Tess Newton

Team Assistant, Policy and Public Affairs, techUK

 

 

Authors

Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke

Senior Policy Manager - International Policy and Trade, techUK

Dan joined techUK as a Policy Manager for International Policy and Trade in March 2023.

Before techUK, Dan worked for data and consulting company GlobalData as an analyst of tech and geopolitics. He has also worked in public affairs, political polling, and has written freelance for the New Statesman and Investment Monitor.

Dan has a degree in MSc International Public Policy from University College London, and a BA Geography degree from the University of Sussex.

Outside of work, Dan is a big fan of football, cooking, going to see live music, and reading about international affairs. 

Email:
[email protected]

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