As seen in pictures surfacing the net, human rights demonstrators held up protest banner bearing an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping before he passed by on a horse-drawn carriage with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on the Mall en route to Buckingham Palace in London, Tuesday.
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City Chairman Kahldoon Al Mubarak also showed Mr Xi round Manchester Town Hall, where hundreds of British-based Chinese greeted the president with flags, chanting “We love you President Xi”.
For Britain, the country has pledged to be China’s ally in the West and the most open partner of the world’s second largest economy. The president is on a four-day State Visit to the United Kingdom.
Despite the extraordinary pomp and ceremony, the most important underlying message of China-UK relations is that they remain committed to treat each other as equals.
Expectations of the total value went up rapidly during the visit, with Business Secretary Sajid Javid suggesting £25 billion, then Downing Street said £30 billion before Mr Cameron trumpeted the £40 billion figure at a business summit.
No mention of Prime Minister David Cameron’s selfie bomb, though, in Aguero’s tweet.
President Xi was visiting Manchester when the two leaders met for a discussion.
In a joint statement before the meeting, they said stronger U.K.-China ties were of “global significance and strategic importance”. Although soccer hasn’t been a forte for China, there has been a nationwide campaign to boost the sport, which is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers.
Speaking to Sky News after Mr Xi’s visit to Manchester’s National Graphene Institute, Chancellor George Osborne defended the warm welcome extended to the Chinese leader amid criticism from human rights groups andsteel industry workers.
China will encourage its enterprises to invest in north England, and it welcomes Britain’s decision to be the first major Western country to become a prospective founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Xi said, adding that China also seeks Britain’s support in joining the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister David Cameron have made significant progress in agreeing with worldwide and regional issues.
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“This is looking at China’s role in worldwide affairs and the influence it can bring to the table – how do we work to tackle extremism, particularly Islamist extremism, make advances on global efforts for a political solution in Syria”, the Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said.
