BRITAIN’S red carpet treatment for the Chinese premier has been staunchly defended by David Cameron as he hailed the signing of £40 billion-worth of contracts, which will help create thousands of new jobs across the UK.
Speaking at a joint press conference in No 10, the Prime Minister argued that building a strong commercial relationship meant partners could be more open and frank in other areas. “I would completely reject the premise that either you can have an exchange with China about the issue of steel - or indeed about human rights - or you can have a strong relationship with China which is good for business, investment and growth.
"My argument, and my contention after five years of doing this job, is that you can have both. Indeed you must have both," he declared.
At the business end of a four-day state visit, which involved the signing of a number of contracts in the City of London, Mr Cameron said: “What this really means is jobs, it means livelihoods, it means security.”
The PM said he had been "determined" to build a stronger relationship with China during his time in No 10 but explained how his relationship with President Xi dated back to 2007 when the pair promised to "nurture and develop" links between the two nations.
"The deals that have been done during this visit cement what is a growing partnership," he insisted.
At the centre of the swathe of deals was China's investment in Hinkley Point, the new £18 billion nuclear power station in Somerset; the first of what is expected to be a new generation of civil nuclear power plants in the UK.
In collaboration with French energy giant EDF, the China General Nuclear Power Corporation will build the new plant, which should be operational from 2025.
Construction of Hinkley Point C will create 25,000 jobs during its construction and will support 900 direct jobs during its 60-year lifetime.
Other deals cover sectors such as healthcare, engineering and transport, including a £2bn deal for buses from the Dennis plant in Falkirk.
Mr Xi told the UK-China business summit that there was "enormous" potential for trade between the two countries; China is expected to import around ten trillion US dollars-worth of goods and invest more than 500 billion US dollars overseas over the next five years.
The President said Britain and China must now work to "deepen mutual trust", deliver some tangible results off the back of the new relationship and "synergise" development strategies.
Earlier bilateral talks in No 10 between the two leaders came after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge treated Mr Xi to a display of British cultural icons, including James Bond's car and Doctor Who's Tardis.
The UK Trade & Investment exhibition at London's Lancaster House included everything from an outlandish hat by leading British milliner Philip Treacy, a Dalek, a red London bus, and a black cab.
Today, there will be an attempt to cement a stronger personal relationship between the two leaders when they and their wives dine at the PM’s country residence of Chequers.
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