Theresa May has said the UK’s relations with China are “about more than Hinkley” as speculation mounted that the Prime Minister could pull back from the symbolically important £18bn nuclear scheme.
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Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is understood to have pushed for greater clarity about Mrs May’s plans during a brief meeting after his administration earlier issued a 15-page document setting out the assurances on the future of the economy being sought by Japanese companies operating in the UK.
British Prime Minister Theresa May attends a press conference during the G20 summit held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday.
There was no direct mention in the statement of the delayed nuclear project. In Hangzhou, she and her team tried to move the story on UK/China relations off the Hinkley Point project and on to other areas.
A deal would be a major boost to the United Kingdom and the new Prime Minister, and comes despite a delay on whether to continue with the Chinese-backed power station in Somerset.
The official also said Mr Xi had told Ms May that China would remain patient while her government gets to grips with decisions taken by her predecessor.
Mrs May accepted an invitation to visit China next year.
In a bid to show, perhaps, what could be gained from a positive outcome to Hinkley, Mr Xi also said that they “wanted to look at how we could strengthen our trading and economic relationship and that China was open to a bilateral trade arrangement with the UK”.
Meanwhile, May also outlined London’s ambition to be the global leader of free trade although the country has made a decision to exit the European Union (EU).
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The Hinkley project was agreed upon by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron during what he called a “golden era” of ties between the two countries, but it has been put under review since May took office two months ago. “I’ve been clear we will be continuing that global strategic partnership with China”, she said during her first trip to China.
