The president joined Prince Andrew for a visit to a satellite communications company and attend a conference


Prime Minister David Cameron brought Chinese President Xi Jinping to his favourite pub for a pint and a portion of fish and chips last night.

The trip to The Plough at Cadsden in Buckinghamshire lasted just 20 minutes, during which time they both ate and drank a Greene King IPA.

Mr Xi sampled his long-awaited British fish and chips supper, and Mr Cameron - who paid for the drinks with a £10 note - said the meal was ‘very good’.

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Paying with a tenner: Prime Minister David Cameron (right) gets out money to buy drinks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (right)

Drinking: Mr Xi (left) and Mr Cameron (right) enjoy a Greene King IPA at the The Plough at Cadsden pub yesterday

Saying hello: Mr Cameron (right) leaves the pub near Chequers in Buckinghamshire following a pint with Mr Xi (left) yesterday evening

Making an entrance: The trip by Mr Cameron and Mr Xi to The Plough at Cadsden in Buckinghamshire lasted just 20 minutes

Having a drink: Mr Xi was able to sample his long-awaited British fish and chips supper, and the Prime Minister said it was ‘very good’

Evening out: The pair arrived at the quaint village pub at 6.40pm, after driving the 2.5 miles from the Prime Minister's residence of Chequers

Mr Cameron (right) pauses while drinking a pint of beer with Mr Xi to gesture at the pub near Princess Risborough

Trip to the pub: Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) visit The Plough pub near Princes Risborough

Waving for the cameras: The Plough at Cadsden is a 16th century country inn located in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire

Leaving: Mr Cameron and Mr Xi leave The Plough at Cadsden yesterday evening after enjoying a traditional fish and chip meal

I dropped into The Plough at Cadsden for a pint of IPA and some fish and chips with China's President Xi. pic.twitter.com/6kiY27UBwE — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 22, 2015

The pair arrived at the quaint village pub at 6.40pm, after driving the 2.5 miles from the Prime Minister's nearby official residence of Chequers.

Other ministers and officials followed Mr Cameron and Mr Xi inside through a second door, including Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

The Prime Minister, who famously once left daughter Nancy behind at The Plough after an afternoon out, joked with locals about the incident.

'I've been in here a few times,' Mr Cameron said. 'I'm not leaving my family here today.'

Last night's visit comes two years after Mr Xi famously visited a dumpling shop in Beijing in an apparent attempt to seem more of a man of the people.

Earlier, Samantha Cameron chose a stylish £550 handbag to gift to China's First Lady when she visits the Prime Minister's country home.

The charcoal 'Albion Square' tote bag, by London-based designer Sophie Hulme, is believed to be among gifts that were exchanged last night.

The Camerons were hosting President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan at Chequers yesterday evening.

The visiting dignitaries will join the Camerons for a private dinner, where discussions are expected to take place on China's role in international relations.

The visitors were last night due to fly to Manchester ahead of the final day of their four-day state visit.

Visit: Mr Cameron (right) welcomes Mr Xi to his official residence at Chequers, near Butler's Cross in Buckinghamshire

Welcome: Mr Cameron (right) walks in the gardens as he greets the Chinese President (centre) and an interpreter (left) at Chequers

Talks: Mr Cameron (centre right) speaks with Mr Xi (centre left) as they and their delegations met at the Prime Minister's country residence

Guests: President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan spoke to Her Majesty at the entrance to the palace, where they have been staying

Stylish: Madame Peng wore a sleek grey cape over her ensemble as she visited the Royal College of Music in London

Samantha Cameron, left, will give Madame Peng Liyuan a stylish Sophie Hulme 'Albion Square' tote bag, pictured, worth £550

Elegant: China's First Lady, Madame Peng Liyuan, smiles at waiting photographers as she arrived at the Royal College of Music in London

Meanwhile Mr Cameron has presented the President with a commemorative lunar gold coin from the Royal Mint celebrating the Chinese Year of the Sheep to mark his state visit to the UK.

And the Camerons also gave Mr Xi and his wife a personalised crystal platter centrepiece from Devon-based Dartington Crystal.

Downing Street had earlier kept tight-lipped over speculation that the PM would treat his guests to a visit to a local pub - but they were later spotted at The Plough, near Princes Risborough.

It remained unclear whether Mr Cameron would wear his Royal British Legion poppy - purchased just hours earlier - during talks with Xi, after a spat during his 2010 visit to China when his hosts saw the remembrance emblem as an offensive reminder of the 19th century Opium Wars.

MPs demanded to know whether Mr Cameron would use the opportunity to raise specific concerns about China's records on human rights, including the detention of lawyer Zhang Kai and other rights defenders.

And Tory former minister Tim Loughton questioned why pro-Tibet and free speech protesters were 'corralled' behind barriers while Chinese 'state sponsored cheerleaders' were given prime position to watch Mr Xi being driven up the Mall to meet the Queen.

But a joint statement released yesterday had little to say on the issues, with the Prime Minister and President Xi hailing a 'golden era' in their relationship.

The document - drawn up after Wednesday's talks between Xi and Mr Cameron at 10 Downing Street - focused on burgeoning economic links, along with the 'global significance and strategic importance of stronger UK-China relations in promoting global peace, stability and prosperity'.

It confirmed agreements to refrain from cyber-espionage and to liberalise visa regimes and called for the 'swift' launch of a feasibility study for a China/EU Free Trade Agreement, as well as increasing opportunities for cultural and sporting links, study and tourism.

Downing Street said discussions at Chequers would focus on global affairs, with extremism expected to be high on the agenda.

China, along with Russia, blocked a series of Western resolutions at the United Nations against Bashar Assad's brutal regime in Syria. The international community is keenly watching how China responds to the fight against Islamic State following Russian military intervention in the conflict-riven country.

Goodbye: Mr Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace

Farewell: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave goodbye to Chinese president Xi Jinping and his wife at Buckingham Palace

President Xi views satellite coverage screens in the Network Operation Centre control room of Inmarsat, with CEO Rupert Pearce

Prince Andrew looks on as president Xi is shown behind-the-scenes of the telecommunications company by CEO Rupert Pearce, right

President Xi, left, with Andy Sukawaty, Chairman of Inmarsat, centre, and Prince Andrew, right, on a visit to British telecommunications company Inmarsat, a leading provider of global satellite communication service

President Xi speaks as he attends the opening of the UCL Institute of Education Confucius Institute annual conference in London

Downing Street said discussions will focus on the 'influence China can bring to the table'.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: 'How do we work to tackle extremism, particularly Islamist extremism, make advances on global efforts for a political solution in Syria.

'There may be a number of issues they decide they want to take forward and continue in discussion, but I would expect it to focus more on international and foreign affairs.'

The Prime Minister will also use the talks to raise concerns over Hong Kong directly with the president, she said. Mr Xi has been accused by democracy campaigners of increasing interference in the running of the former colony.

The Queen used the state banquet in Mr Xi's honour at Buckingham Palace to underline former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's vision for 'one country two systems' - an aim that critics fear is being eroded.

This afternoon, President Xi joined Prince Andrew to visit Inmersat, a British company that is a leading provider of global satellite communication services. There, the pair were shown views taken from the firm's satellite coverage screens by CEO Rupert Pearce.

They later attended a conference Confucius Institute, which aims to promote Chinese language and culture in Britain.

DAVID CAMERON WILL WEAR POPPY DESPITE CHINESE COMPLAINTS David Cameron has bought a poppy to help launch the Royal British Legion's annual campaign, with Number 10 saying he would wear it 'in the usual way' despite Chinese sensitivities. The Prime Minister received his poppy from wounded veteran Mark Stonelake at a Downing Street reception, placing a £10 note in a collecting tin carried by Corporal Linda Noble and pinning it to his lapel. But the emblem of remembrance risks angering Mr Cameron's Chinese guests, who may see it as an offensive reminder of the Opium Wars fought between Britain and China in the 19th century. Also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, they were the climax of trade disputes between China and the British Empire over Chinese attempts to restrict British opium trafficking. China was defeated in both the First Opium War, from 1839 to 1842 and the Second Opium War from 1856 to 1860. The Prime Minister placed a £10 note in a collecting tin carried by Corporal Linda Noble, left, before pinning the poppy to his lapel, right Prime Minister David Cameron speaks with Alex Noble and military serving personnel outside Downing Street During his visit to China in 2013, Mr Cameron and his entourage refused a request from Beijing officials to remove their poppies. Mr Cameron is hosting Chinese president Xi Jinping for talks at his Buckinghamshire country retreat Chequers, followed by dinner with wife Samantha and the Chinese First Lady, Peng Liyuan. Number 10 has declined to give details of when he will sport the poppy but his official spokeswoman previously insisted his decision 'will not be swayed by any visitors in town'. Ex-commando Mr Stonelake, who had a leg amputated after being blown up by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2008, was one of several beneficiaries of the legion's work who attended the short ceremony. The Prime Minister tweeted this photograph, calling on Britons to remember the 'extraordinary service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces' Advertisement

Goodbye: The Queen and Prince Philip, seen in the doorway behind, escorted Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the palace

Close ties: The Queen, pictured with Prince Philip, celebrated Britain's strong relationship with China in her speech at the state banquet

On Wednesday, president Xi's schedule focused on business and trade deals between China and Britain. The Government hopes this week's state visit will secure more than £30 billion of trade deals, including huge investments in infrastructure projects.

The day started with a touch of glamour. Mr Xi and Madame Peng were greeted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an event celebrating the creative collaborations between the two nations.

The best of British was put on display at the event, including an outlandish hat by leading British milliner Philip Treacy, a Dalek and Tardis from Doctor Who, and James Bond's Aston Martin. The VIP guests were also treated to a live performance by some of the cast from the hit BBC show Poldark.

There was excitement when Chan met the royal couple, with both William and Kate smiling as they posed for a photo alongside their guests.

Mr Xi later joined the Prime Minister at Downing Street for a working lunch and talks with Cabinet ministers.

Banquet: From left to right, Lady Mayoress Gilly Yarrow, First Lady Peng Liyuan, the Duke of York, President Xi Jinping and the Lord Mayor Alderman Alan Yarrow arrived at Guildhall in London last night

Honoured: At last night's dinner, President Xi was seated between the Lord Mayor of London and Andrew, the Duke of York, pictured

Guests at the 15th century hall in Guildhall wore headsets as they listened to a translation of President Xi's speech at the formal dinner

Top of the agenda was the deal for the China General Nuclear Power Corporation to fund a third of the £18billion cost of the new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset, due to be built by French energy giant EDF.

President Xi hailed it a 'flagship deal' which will see China own a third of Britain's first nuclear power plant for a generation.

The project also aims to create 1,000 apprenticeships alongside £14million of investment in education and training.

Among other initiatives being trumpeted is a £325 million package of partnerships in the creative and technology, including a £50 million deal between Aston Martin and China Equity to develop its zero-emission RapidE sports car.

There will also be a big cut in the cost of repeat-visit visas for Chinese tourists in the hope of attracting more high-spending visitors from the fast-expanding Far Eastern economy.

Last night, Mr Xi and Madame Peng attended a banquet in the Guildhall, in London's financial district, alongside guests including the Duke of York and the Lord Mayor of London.

President Xi Jinping joined the PM for a working lunch at Downing Street on Wednesday, followed by talks with Cabinet ministers

David Cameron with President Xi, far right, and members of his Cabinet including, from left, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Home Secretary Theresa May, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd and British ambassador to China Barbara Woodward

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, right, posed with Chinese president Xi Jinping and his wife, left, and Jackie Chan, centre



