May hopes to cement post-Brexit trade ties in China visit

Theresa May is to embark on a three day visit to China to boost post-Brexit trade and investment ties with the largest-ever UK trade delegation comprising over 50 business leaders.

The British prime minister is expected to arrive in China on Wednesday and during her stay she is set to visit Wuhan, Beijing and Shanghai. In her visit she will hold talks with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and meet business leaders.

British CEOs will meet Chinese counterparts at the inaugural meeting of the CEO council. Some of the business executives travelling with May include Dr Andy Palmer, president of Aston Martin Lagonda, Pascal Soriot CEO of AstraZeneca and Mark E. Tucker, chairman of HSBC Holdings.

May said the visit would allow “frank discussions on all issues”. These include North Korea and climate change, it’s unclear if they will also discuss human rights in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a delicate subject that the prime minister may have trouble bringing up. Former tory cabinet member and Hong Kong’s governor Lord Patten, called on the prime minister on Monday, to call out China over its erosion of the citizens rights and freedoms.

Her spokesman did not reveal if the topic was on the agenda,“The UK has always been clear and continues to be clear that it’s vital Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms are respected and we are firm believers in one country, two systems – we welcome the Chinese commitment to it.”

Her spokesman said they would also discuss China’s desired involvement in high-profile UK infrastructure projects, which include the the controversial building of a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point. May angered the Chinese leaders when she delayed her official blessing for the project.

Both countries have said we’re living in a “golden era” in UK-Sino relations. British trade with China has increased by 60% since 2010 and May wants to send the message that it will still be a good place to do business after Brexit.

"My visit will intensify the golden era in UK-China relations," said May before the trip.

"There are huge trade opportunities in China that we want to help British businesses take advantage of."

The UK is looking to prioritise the trading deals with countries like the US, Australia, Canada and China to be prepared for when it leaves the EU, its main trading partner, in 2019.