All eyes will be on China next week as David Cameron prepares for his visit. He will be leading the UK’s largest trade delegation yet as he goes for a two day visit. While there, he will attend dinners with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
London’s main goal is to reopen routes into Beijing after they were closed when Mr. Cameron met with the Dalai Lama, an event that infuriated China. He is now hoping the trip will “turn the page” after that fight.
Mr. Cameron has focused on the importance of the UK-China trade relationship for years, first promising in 2010 that he would double British trade to China by 2015 to £62bn.
Trying to enhance the trading partnership, Mr. Cameron will take 120 businesspeople with him next week. The delegation will include: Ralf Speth (chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover); George Weston (chief executive of Associated British Foods); Jorma Ollila (chairman of Royal Dutch Shell); Xavier Rolet (London Stock Exchange chief executive) and others.
As Stephen Crisp, the JLR global director of government affairs said, “It shows the UK’s long-term commitment to the country. But also the prime minister will be followed by Chinese politicians wherever he goes, and that will make sure they notice us.”