The Prime Minister’s letter was handed over by Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma to his Chinese counterpart during an official visit to the Chinese capital.
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UK Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Chinese President Xi Jinping, to express her desire to see strengthening trade ties between the two countries.
The letter follows a period of tensions over the future of the £18 billion (US$23.4 billlion) arrangement after United Kingdom spies warned Chinese investment in British nuclear power could compromise national security.
In a statement late on Monday, China’s foreign ministry cited a British envoy as telling Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Britain attached great importance to Sino-British cooperation.
According to Sky News, Mrs May said that the United Kingdom “looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China on trade and business and on global issues”. China has urged the U.K.to reach “a decision as soon as possible”.
Feng Zhongping, vice president of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a government-backed think tank in Beijing, said that if the Hinkley Point nuclear joint venture fell through, it would cast “a long shadow” over bilateral ties between Beijing and London.
During their meeting, Wang said China was willing to work together with the United Kingdom to push forward the partnership between the two countries and further deepen practical cooperation in various fields.
China has called for the project to proceed.
The decision was prompted in principle by concerns about the safety repercussions of the project funded by Chinese state-owned company, China General Nuclear, and managed by French energy group EDF.
China’s 6 billion pound investment in the Somerset plant was the biggest deal announced during Mr Xi’s state visit to Britain in October previous year.
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The letter follows the British government’s controversial and unexpected decision to delay a deal which would see the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. “Britain is open for business and an attractive destination for global investors, including from China”.
