Mr Xi himself acknowledged “concerns about the Chinese economy”, but sought to allay them in a written interview with Reuters. The president’s welcome in London is set to cement a series of investment deals that will see China pump more than US$155 billion into Britain’s infrastructure – including new nuclear power stations. “In the long run David Cameron is taking a risk both in terms of the infrastructure assets and Britain’s long term relationships by trying to be China best friend when China has a very different way at looking at the world”.
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The issue of human rights is likely to loom large during the visit, with the Prime Minister’s former strategy guru Steve Hilton complaining that China is “run by a bunch of cruel, corrupt, communist dictators”. “This is a visionary and strategic choice that fully meets Britain’s own long-term interest”, Mr Xi said.
As official data from Beijing showed that China’s GDP growth had slowed to 6.9 per cent over the past year, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said the expected deal for Chinese investment in EDF’s planned nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point was “in the best interests of Britain and also in the interest of partnership between China and UK”.
The figures come as China’s president Xi Jinping acknowledged concerns about the strength of his country’s economy on the eve of a state visit to the United Kingdom, and follow the crash of world stock markets in August on fears about the country’s economic robustness.
In the case of church crosses, the Chinese government has said it’s removed them for safety reasons.
Xi will pay his first state visit to Britain from October. 19 to 23.
That doesn’t seem to matter to Cameron and co, who are desperate for China to invest in British infrastructure so they don’t have to.
Doubtless security will be just as tight as our new national champion Xi Jinping arrives to enjoy all the pomp we Brits can muster.
In the global sphere, China and Britain have maintained close cooperation from fighting the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to solving the Iran nuclear issue, consolidating the basis for their further in-depth and comprehensive cooperation.
There has been speculation the Labour leader will use a state banquet at Buckingham Palace this week to raise issues of personal freedom, censorship and a crack down on dissidents with the president.
Churches in China must receive state permission to function, leading numerous country’s Christians to worship underground.
“Going forward, we will deepen market-oriented financial reforms according to law to cultivate an open and transparent capital market that enjoys long-term, stable and sound development”, he said.
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Chinese companies will be involved in the creation of three nuclear power plants in Britain, a move which should be officially announced in the coming days, during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Britain.
