Trade to top PM Theresa May’s agenda during trip to China

World Today

British Prime Minister Theresa May will make her first official trip to China this week. Her agenda includes trade and investment as she tries to boost relations ahead of the U.K. leaving the European Union.

CGTN’s Tang Bo has the details on her coming visit.

British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward reiterated the vision of Golden Era for China-U.K. relations by President Xi Jinping in 2015. She has said the relationship is strengthening, particularly in the areas of trade, global economy, and jointly tackling global challenges.

Woodward believes there is a great vision for China right through to 2050 following the 19th Party Congress, meaning there are more opportunities to deepen cooperation. Britain is China’s second largest trading partner within the European Union. China is Britain’s second largest non-EU trading partner.

According to government statistics, trade volume between the two countries hit $79 billion in 2017, up nearly 6.2 percent from the previous year. More than 500 Chinese enterprises have set up their offices in Britain, investing in trade, finance and telecommunications — to high-end manufacturing, research centers and new energy.

Experts said that a sustainable, open and win-win oriented Golden Era of Sino-U.K. ties is an example for China-West cooperation. May’s visit aims to step up not only the Golden Era progress, but a balanced development of China-Europe ties.