Sunday, 13 October 2013

Osborne begins China trade trip

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com


ICBCICBC is backing a property development deal at Manchester Airport


Chancellor George Osborne is beginning a trip to China to promote UK business and encourage Chinese investors to consider the UK.


Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) will sign a deal during the chancellor's visit, which will mean a £650m investment in a business district at Manchester Airport.


ICBC will back a consortium planning to build shops, offices and parkland.


London Mayor Boris Johnson is also on a separate six-day visit to China.


He will meet political leaders and business chiefs in an effort to promote the capital's trade with the country.


During his trip Mr Osborne will visit Beijing and southern China.


Britain is one of the top 10 nations to attract Chinese investment - more than double the investment of any other nation in Europe.


Chinese investment is concentrated in the UK energy sector, although Barclays Bank, BP, Diageo and Thames Water also have Chinese backing.


'Huge opportunities'

Some UK companies are also controlled by Chinese groups.


Bright Foods owns a 60% stake in Weetabix; the Wanda conglomerate owns 92% of Sunseeker boats and Geely Automobile owns Manganese Bronze, the company that makes London taxis.


Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson is on a six-day visit


Chinese firms have also recently made big investments in London.


Earlier this year, developer ABP announced a £1bn deal to redevelop the Royal Albert Dock in east London and this month the ZhongRong Group said it would be investing £500m to rebuild The Crystal Palace in south London.


On Saturday, Mr Johnson said China's recent economic growth was "nothing short of staggering" and the opportunities that presented for London were "huge".


Last year 104,000 Chinese tourists visited London, according to the office of the Mayor of London. That is up 28% from 2011 and up 100% since 2009.


BBC correspondent John Sudworth, at Beijing Airport, said the two separate but simultaneous visits are being seen as a sign of a diplomatic thaw following an 18-month long chill in relations.


"China made no secret of its displeasure after UK Prime Minister David Cameron met the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, in London last year," he said.


Our correspondent said the trade missions were also a sign of the growing importance of China to the UK economy.


Both Mr Osborne and Mr Johnson are travelling with delegations of British businessmen and the chancellor is also expected to announce details of planned Chinese investment in a British nuclear power plant.





Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui

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