10月22日，广州全新英国签证申请中心正式运营，新地址位于广州市海珠区琶洲大道78号广铝国际中心8楼。
英国驻广州总领事孟诗然（Sarah Mann）在开幕式致辞中表示：“在过去12个月中，我们向中国公民签发了超过63.7万份签证，比上年增长了69%。我们期待在未来几年迎来更多的中国公民的签证申请，其中许多人将在这个新的中心完成申请。”
The UK launched a new visa application centre in Guangzhou on Tuesday.
“The UK continues to welcome Chinese nationals to the UK for visits, work, or study,” British Consul-General Sarah Mann said during her congratulatory speech to inaugurate the new centre.
UK Visas and Immigration statistics show that over 500,000 visitor visas were granted to Chinese nationals in the year ending June 2024, more than doubled (+109%) compared to the same period last year .
英国签证及移民局的统计数据显示，截至2024年6月的一年中，中国公民获得了超过50万份访问签证，较去年同期增长109%。其中，在获得学生签证的留学生群体中，中国公民的占比依旧靠前，已签发超过10.7万份学生签证。
孟诗然说，“我相信全新升级的英国签证申请中心将为申请人提供更多便利，无论是工作、旅游，还是在世界领先的院校学习，都将确保他们顺利开展英国之旅。”
英国是中国在欧洲第三大贸易伙伴、第二大投资目的地和第三大外资来源地，中国是英国在亚洲最大贸易伙伴。数据显示，2023年，中英双边贸易额为979亿美元。2024年上半年，中英双边贸易额为467.7亿美元。
According to the Consulate, Chinese nationals continue to account for a large proportion of students granted visas to study in the UK, with over 107,000 visas issued in the year ending June 2024.
In her speech, Mann also announced priorities in sectors including innovation, education, retail, and sports, aimed at strengthening UK-China collaboration in key areas of mutual interest.
Among these priorities, next month, the Technology team will lead a UK Tech GBA Trade Mission of six UK tech companies specialising in digital transformation, automation, LED video processing, and flexible organic electronics to exhibit at the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen.
“Looking ahead, the UK is committed to building sustainable economies, fostering stronger people-to-people relationships, and enhancing trade and investment opportunities in South China,” Mann said.
UK trade with China has surged over the past few decades, with goods exports from the UK to China (including Hong Kong) increasing from £4.3 billion in 2000 to over £22 billion in 2023, according to ONS data. Over this period, UK exports grew at an average rate of 8% per year.
As the second-largest European investor and trading partner, Mann emphasized that the UK has strong foundations for building further links with China.