British prime minister David Cameron has promised the UK will offer same day visas to business travellers from China as he continues to tour the country as part of a trade mission.

Promising “open competition” for investment in Britain, the prime minister said an increased number of students could be welcomed to the UK.

Speaking to students at Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University Cameron said there was “no limit” on Chinese students studying in the UK.

Addressing a lunch in Shanghai, he told business leaders: “If you are investing in Britain, invest more.

“If you are thinking of investing in Britain, come and find us.

“You will get a warm welcome.”

The move to speed up Chinese business visas was given a cautious welcome by the World Travel & Tourism Council.
WTTC president David Scowsill said: “This is a good first step in the right direction for the UK.

“The government has recognised that the huge economic opportunity of Chinese businessmen and tourists was being stymied by restrictive visas rules.

“The announcement of a new marketing campaign will promote demand, but the government has sensibly heeded the word of WTTC and others which have long maintained that the UK needs to make changes to the process of allowing the Chinese to enter the UK.

“WTTC urges the UK government to continue to improve travel restrictions for the Chinese and to ensure that it is taking all reasonable steps to allow hassle-free access to travelers from around the world who wish to create jobs and economic prosperity in the UK.”