LONDON, Oct 18: Trade and investment between China and Britain can benefit further from a “golden era” in their bilateral relations, British Prime Minister David Cameron said ahead of a state visit to London by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Cameron was echoing remarks by China’s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, who said Xi’s visit on October 19-23 would mark the dawn of a “golden time” in bilateral ties. “It’s going to be a very important moment for British-Chinese relations, which are in a very good state, something of a golden era in our relationship,” Cameron told China Central Television. “The change we will see is obviously the investment into our infrastructure, Chinese companies employing people and creating jobs. But I think it’s also a big win for China as well, having access to a country that is a leading member of the EU and has so many other contacts and roles in the world.” Cameron’s Conservative government is seeking to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s EU membership and will call a referendum by the end of 2017 on whether to stay or leave the bloc. Diplomats say Beijing is concerned about the implications of Britain, a strong advocate of free trade, exiting the EU and about any weakening of a bloc it views as a vital global counterbalance to the United States. Despite such concerns, Xi’s visit will take place in a cordial atmosphere and include a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. The British government has moved forcefully to strengthen financial ties with Beijing. Earlier this year, it broke ranks with the United States, its close ally, by signing up as a founding member of China’s new infrastructure investment bank. Cameron said British exports to China had quadrupled over the past decade and he shrugged off concerns about the current slowing of Chinese economic growth. “Obviously there are issues at the moment that are being addressed in China and I think the growth will continue,” he said. Data due out tomorrow is expected to show Chinese growth fell below 7 per cent in the third quarter for the first time since the global financial crisis. Chinese leaders have been trying to reassure global markets that Beijing is able to manage the world’s second-largest economy after a shock devaluation of the yuan and a summer stock market plunge. Analysts caution there may be little concrete behind the warm words during Xi’s visit, with final deals on nuclear energy projects and high-speed rail links in Britain a long way off. However, Xi’s visit could include an anouncement that Beijing will issue government debt in renminbi in London, making it the first financial centre outside China to offer its sovereign debt, the Financial Times reported. (AGENCIES)
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