SIMON JESSOP

GF Fund Management has become the first Chinese investment manager to expand into Europe, opening a London office as it seeks to boost two-way investment flows with the world's second-biggest economy.

GF International Asset Management, a GFFM subsidiary and part of GF Securities, said in a statement it would provide investment products based around Chinese assets and advise global institutions on accessing quotas to trade directly in Chinese markets.

The announcement of the move coincides with this week's visit of Chinese premier Xi Jinping to Britain to deepen economic ties between the two countries as China looks to further liberalise its financial markets.