Rise in visa applications indicates stronger UK-China ties: ambassador

GUANGZHOU, March 19 (Xinhua) -- More and more CHINESE people are choosing to visit Britain and the significant rise in visa applications demonstrates the growing strength of the relationship between the two countries, said British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward.

Britain has seen a 400-percent increase in visa applications from CHINESE over the last decade, and in 2018 alone, China accounted for a quarter of UK visas issued globally, the ambassador said, citing figures from the UK Home Office.

Woodward is on a visit tour to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong from March 18 to 20.

According to Woodward, more than 730,000 visas were issued to CHINESE nationals in 2018, up 11 percent year on year and accounting for 25 percent of 2.9 million entry clearance visas granted by the UK.

The southern part of China saw its applications grow 15 percent year on year, higher than the national average, she added.