An interior view of new UK visa application center in Guangzhou.

The new UK visa application center in Guangzhou began operations at its new location on the 8th floor of the GAL Tower at No 78 Pazhou Avenue in Haizhu district.

British Consul General in Guangzhou, Sarah Mann, said during the opening ceremony that, over the past 12 months, they have issued over 637,000 visas to Chinese citizens, representing a 69 percent increase from the previous year. They eagerly anticipate hosting more Chinese applicants in the upcoming years, with many opting to use this new center for their visa applications.

According to data from UK Visas and Immigration, in the year ending in June 2024, Chinese citizens were granted over 500,000 visitor visas, a 109 percent surge compared to the previous year. Chinese nationals maintained their lead among student visa recipients, with over 107,000 student visas issued during the same period.

Mann remarked, they are confident that the newly enhanced UK visa application center will provide applicants with enhanced convenience, facilitating seamless journeys to the UK for various purposes, including work, tourism, or study at globally renowned institutions.

The UK is China's third-largest trading partner in Europe, its second-largest investment destination, and its third-largest source of foreign investment. Conversely, China is the UK's primary trading partner in Asia. Statistics reveal that in 2023, bilateral trade between China and the UK totaled $97.9 billion. By the end of the first half of 2024, that figure had already reached $46.77 billion.