A
UK government and trade mission to China is the “largest and most high
powered” visit to the country from a UK delegation, Chancellor George
Osborne has said.
Prime
Minster David Cameron the chancellor, Business Secretary Vince Cabled Energy
Secretary Chris Huhne and about 50 UK business leaders are part of the trip
designed to ramp up business with China.
As
well as trying to boost business, Mr Cameron will also raise the issue of
China’s human rights record.
The
visit is the prime minister’s second major trip to an emerging economy since
taking power.
It
follows a high-profile visit to India in July.
Mr
Cameron’s office said he would challenge China on its human rights record, but
was not specific about which subjects he would raise.
Mr
Osborne said that discussions about human rights had been going on for many
years but added it was “not the only thing we talk to the Chinese
about”.
“Our
economic relationship is an incredibly important and strong one,” he said.
Mr
Cameron’s coalition government has made broadening global trade links a
priority, with particular emphasis on the fast-growing developing markets
typified by China and India, both of whose economies are growing strongly.
Currently,
exports to China, although growing fast, are relatively small compared with
other markets. For example, the UK exports twice as much to the Irish Republic
than to China.
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