Britain is seeking Chinese investment in Manchester, which it hopes will become an economic and technological “northern powerhouse” to offset London’s dominance. Political observers feel that Xi Jinping’s hint will only make this visit even more controversial. “That’s Chinese investment partnering with British companies, creating thousands of jobs here and at the same time we can have a dialogue about hard issues from steel-making to human rights to cyber security”.
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The trip also took Xi to the old industrial city of Manchester in northern England.
Cameron is seeking to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the European Union, which it joined in 1973, before holding a referendum on membership which he says will take place before the end of 2017.
In his comments, Xi noted the sport’s global appeal and the UK’s role as a football power.
Sun played for Manchester City on 130 occasions between 2002 and 2008 and was the first Chines player to score in the Premier League.
“It is my hope that the Chinese and British peoples will carry on our joint efforts in defense of the fruits of the victory in the World Anti-fascist War, that we will uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and that we will promote the building of a new type of worldwide relations based on win-win cooperation”, Xi said.
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.
The Chinese president had revealed he was keen to sup a few traditional ale during his state visit to the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister duly obliged.
“A partnership is a relationship where we do things together like build nuclear power stations, invest in modern science, regenerate cities like Manchester”, he told Sky television.
The Government said the value of a number of other deals – involving BP, Cambridge Education Limited, Merlin, Tang Culture Group, Uppingham School and BBC Worldwide – were withheld “due to commercial sensitivities or commercial confidentiality”.
Britain has used the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping as an occasion to ease visa requirements for other Chinese visitors.
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During his tour of City’s academy, Mr Xi said that sport was an important part of China-UK exchanges and that China could learn from British football, Reuters reported. Shao Jiang was tackled by police after holding placards in front of Xi’s London motorcade, and then police searched his home and seized his computers. Police said they believed Shao and the women had been conspiring to commit threatening behaviour; all three has reject this claim.
