Britain’s relationship with China is still “golden” said Theresa May, prime minister, as she welcomed plans by a Chinese developer to press ahead with a £1.7bn new business district in east London’s Royal Albert Dock area.
Mrs May, who held talks with Chinese vice-premier Ma Kai in Downing Street yesterday, is keen to show that Britain remains open to investment from China.
The warm ties between the countries fostered by former chancellor, George Osborne, cooled after Mrs May decided to review investment by a Chinese energy company into the Hinkley Point nuclear power project. Jim O’Neill, the Treasury minister leading trade talks with Beijing, quit the government after he was sidelined over the issue.