Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived in China to see through a Trade Mission that will see the UK signing a free-trade pact with China.
The mission is in line with government policy measures to increase the UK’s exports and at the same time attract inward investment to "strengthen UK relationships in Asia, Latin America and Africa to support UK prosperity and security."
According to Downing Street, he is accompanied on the mission by the following six government ministers: Jeremy Hunt (Health), Owen Paterson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Maria Miller (Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities), David Willetts (Universities and Science), Ian Livingston (Trade and Investment) and Hugo Swire (Foreign Office).
The mission is designed help link Britain to fast growing markets like China seen as vital part for the government’s plan to secure the economic recovery.
The government said "We are determined to do all we can to throw open the door for British companies to benefit from China’s vast and varied markets, showcasing British business, particularly small enterprises, in China and highlighting investment opportunities."
The deal expected to be in the region of about £2bn will see China exporting and UK exporting to each other without the imposition of tarrifs in specified areas.
The government said the visit is about "planting the seeds of a long-term relationship which will benefit China, Britain and the world for generations to come."
Public affairs commentators believe that the Mission is sure to rile other EU members for fear of flooding their countries with `cheap imports from China'.
Prime Minister Cameron has however further defended the mission, insisting that "an open Britain is the ideal partner for an opening China."
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* Image by Robert Peston.
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