MOVES to relax visa rules for Chinese visitors to the UK to boost tourism and trade have been welcomed by Scottish Ministers.
Chancellor George Osborne announced the proposals during a UK trade mission to China, saying the changes would "streamline and simplify" the visa application process for tens of thousands of the country's visitors.
The move is also an attempt to thaw relations with Beijing following David Cameron's decision to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, last year. Scotland too is attempting forge links with the Asian economic superpower, with Alex Salmond planning a fourth visit as part of his Government's China Strategy.
Mr Salmond will today be at Aberdeen University for the opening of Scotland's fourth Confucius Institute, attended by Chinese diplomats from London and Edinburgh and the president of Wuhan University.
A spokesman for External Relations Minister Humza Yousaf, who has been on a trade and cultural mission to India, said: "Since the Scottish Government first established a China Plan we have been working hard to deepen existing ties and establish new areas of cooperation. This is an approach that is paying substantial dividends as Scottish exports to the world's second largest economy have risen sharply.
"Collaboration between China and Scotland continues to go from strength to strength, and the economic benefits of this relationship are clear. Our relationship with China is based on four priority areas that embrace not only trade and investment opportunities, but also educational and cultural links and increased collaboration in the research and development field.
"The Scottish Government is committed to generating economic growth and building a stronger Scotland. That is why our relationship with China - the world's second largest economy - is tremendously important."
The changes announced by Mr Osborne will reduce the need for Chinese visitors to the European Union to submit separate visa applications for Britain, with selected Chinese travel agents able to apply for UK visas by submitting just the EU's Schengen area visa form.
A new 24-hour "super priority" visa service will become available from summer 2014, while officials are also looking at expanding a VIP mobile visa service, currently operating in Beijing and Shanghai, to the whole country.
The service involves visa teams going out to applicants to collect their completed forms and biometric data, with the whole process taking less than five minutes.
The move will be welcomed by businesses in the UK who have complained that the existing regime is discouraging high-spending Chinese visitors from coming to Britain.
In 2012, 210,000 visas were issued to visiting Chinese nationals who contributed around £300 million to the British economy. Mr Osborne, said: "These changes will streamline and simplify the visa application process for Chinese visitors, while ensuring the system is strong and secure. This is good news for British business and tourism."
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is also on a trade visit to China, said he was pleased the Government had listened to him on simplifying the visa system for Chinese people.
He said: "I'm pleased that the Government has listened to the many voices, mine included, who have called repeatedly for a streamlining and simplification of the Chinese visa system.
"Whilst I await the detail, it would appear the Government's announcement of a pilot scheme available through select travel agents is a welcome step forward."
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