This is The Guardian.

They say that eight days is a long time in politics.

Try eight years because it's eight years since a British Prime Minister stepped on Chinese soil. Breaking news coming from China now.

The Chinese and UK governments have confirmed that there will be visa-free travel for Britain's visiting China.

This is all about the economy, trying wherever you can to pull any lever that might just help growth.

And finally, can I say sit back, enjoy the rest of the fight, I'll be bringing the

centre.

I'm Pippa Carrera.

And I'm Kieran Stacey.

You're listening to Politics Weekly for The Guardian.

Pippa, this is a pretty special episode of this podcast because I'm here in Westminster,

but you, actually the background doesn't quite show the glamorous location you are in.

But tell us where you are.

I'm 5,000 miles away, Kieran.

I'm in Beijing at the British Ambassadors Residents.

I'm not a personal guest, I should say.

I'm here as part of a delegation of business people and cultural leaders and journalists who are accompanying Kier Starrmer,

who is the first British Prime Minister in eight years to come to China, very keen to improve economic relations with the world's second biggest economy.

And there's a party here tonight.

So even though it's daytime with you, it's already the evening here. And outside this room, there are people towing and froing with glasses of shampas and I don't know if there's shampas actually Chinese cocktails. Obviously, after I've done the podcast, I'll be going and joining them. But just to explain, if you hear a bit of chatting or smash glasses in the background, then that's why. I think our listeners should feel honored that you've chosen to duck out of the party

and come and talk to us from what looks like a fairly drab office somewhere in the residence.

So thanks for doing that.

...