China confirmed that Canadian and British citizens will be able to visit the country visa-free from Tuesday, after the two countries' leaders announced such agreements following official trips to Beijing.

British and Canadian prime ministers Keir Starmer and Mark Carney both visited Beijing in January, seeking to bolster relations with China and pivot from the increasingly mercurial United States.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed these agreements on Sunday, saying Canadian and British citizens will be able to travel to China visa-free from Tuesday, with the policy in effect until December 31.

According to a ministry spokesperson, ordinary passport holders from the two countries can be visa exempt and stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visiting family or friends and exchange and transit purposes, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The aim is to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, the ministry added. (AFP)