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Chinese President attends banquet in Manchester

David Cameron and President Xi Jinping of China have spent recent days signing multi-billion pound trade deals and reaching historic agreements on nuclear power and cyber security.

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Supporters wait to welcome China’s President Xi Jinping at the National Graphene Institute at Manchester University in Manchester, Britain October 23, 2015.

Mr Cameron wants to renegotiate European Union membership terms ahead of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017.

FIRST, founded in 1984, publishes special issues for both the British prime minister’s foreign visits and leaders of major countries’ visits to Britain.

Cameron accompanied Xi on his tour of Manchester on Friday as the United Kingdom government tries to promote investment in the post-industrial cities of northern England.

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”.

British leaders sought to steer away from human rights discussions, focusing more on the jobs that new deals with the Chinese will bring.

The state-of-the-art training facility includes a 7,000-capacity stadium and 16 football pitches that can cater for more than 450 players.

He will walk the diplomatic tightrope during his visit, where he is receiving the VIP treatment as he meets a host of former City players Mike Summerbee and Patrick Vieira.

The best of British was put on display for visiting Chinese president Xi Jinping and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – including James Bond’s vehicle and a Dalek.

“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.

“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 leaders will also visit Manchester Airport, where the new Hainan Airlines route will be announced.

Among deals being announced was a new China office complex at Manchester’s £800m Airport City, which is part-owned and partly constructed by a Beijing firm.

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One of those arrested, Shao Jiang, 47, an academic and blogger for Amnesty worldwide, is a survivor of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.

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