Chinese president and David Cameron make joint statement on planned Hinkley Point C nuclear plant as string of Anglo-Sino deals are set to be announced

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

China and Britain have signed multi-billion pound business deals, including for the project to build a nuclear power station in Britain, during day two of the Chinese president’s first state visit to the country.

Xi Jinping and David Cameron on Wednesday attended a UK-China business summit at Mansion House, where the focus was on investment, infrastructure and innovation.

Cameron said at the press conference after the two leaders met: “A strong relationship is in both our countries’ interests, not just because it brings investment and jobs and higher living standards for our peoples – vital though these things are.”

“The more we trade together, the more we have a stake in each others’ success and the more we understand each other, the more we can work together to confront the problems that face our world today”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Brian Cox speaks during the UK-China business summit at Mansion House. Photograph: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

Chinese president signs off on nuclear power station deal

The Chinese leader made a statement with David Cameron to confirm the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in south-west England, just as the French energy firm EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) signed an investment agreement to build the new plant in Somerset.

In what is likely to be the biggest deal of Xi’s visit, the project would create more than 25,000 jobs and power 6m homes, yet is subject to approval by ministers, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.



China will take a stake of one third, $28bn (£18bn), in the EDF project due to start operating by 2025, and is the first European nuclear plant to be built since Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011.

As part of the deal, EDF and the state-owned CGN will also cooperate to license a Chinese-designed reactor and build it at a site near London.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The red carpet is rolled out as David Cameron greets Chinese president Xi Jinping at Downing Street in London. Photograph: Mark Thomas/Rex Shutterstock

However, the prospect of China – which western spymasters say sponsors the hacking of global companies – helping to build a nuclear plant in Britain and being involved in running others has stoked security concerns in Britain.



Securing almost £40bn in contracts with the world’s second largest economy, the UK is to also extend the standard Chinese visitor visas from six months to two years, the government has announced.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi Jinping meets David Cameron and other senior members of his government in the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Chinese tourists contribute £500m annually to the UK economy, according to government figures. Cameron said: “China is becoming one of our fastest-growing tourism markets, so making it easier and more convenient for Chinese visitors to come to the UK is extremely important.

“That is why the announcement I’m making today is great news for our tourism industry and great news for the British economy enabling us to maximise Chinese spending power even further.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Supporters of Falun Gong, including one wearing a large mask with the likeness of Xi Jinping, protest outside Downing Street. Photograph: Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Human rights activists and protesters against China’s state visit accuse Cameron of courting Chinese money while brushing aside criticism of a crackdown in civil liberties since Xi came to power in 2012.



Cameron said in the joint press conference the UK did not have to choose between doing deals with China and raising difficult issues such as the steel industry crisis and Beijing’s human rights record.

Asked what he would say to a steel worker facing the dole who saw the Chinese president given a glittering welcome, he said: “The stronger our economic, trading, business and other partnerships, the stronger our relationship and the more able we are to have the necessary and frank discussions about other issues.”

The Chinese president answered and said: “China attaches great importance to the protection of human rights. We combine the universal value of human rights with China’s reality and we have found a part of human rights development suited to China’s national conditions.”

Xi added: “With regard to protection of human rights, looking round the world we know that there is always room for improvement.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A protester is moved on by police as he takes part in a demonstration against the visit of Xi Jinping. Photograph: Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Chinese president and chancellor visit Imperial College London

Earlier in the day of business and diplomatic handshaking, the Chinese president had visited Imperial College London with George Osborne, the chancellor, and the Duke of York.

Xi interacted with the latest medical robots, including an ultra-flexible snake robot for use in surgery, as further Chinese funding was announced on Wednesday at the university.

The fresh support is to bolster the research British and Chinese experts are working on together – in fields including nanotechnology, bioengineering, computing, advanced materials, environmental engineering and public health.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi Jinping wears 3D glasses to view robotic equipment in the Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics at Imperial College London. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Associated Press

Prof Alice Gast, president of Imperial College London, said: “Imperial’s Chinese students have developed a reputation for innovation, creativity and an openness to new ideas. They are the leaders of tomorrow. Their work today will help shape the UK-China relationship for generations to come.”

Plans for scores of China’s most academically able scholars and students to receive funding to attend Imperial, as well as support for Imperial’s top PhD students to undertake research work at Chinese universities, are to be announced by the Chinese Scholarship Council.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi (left) talks to Prof Guang-Zhong Yang at the Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics during a visit to Imperial College London. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/Associated Press

China UCF Group will donate £3m to support research at Imperial’s Data Science Institute and Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics. The university also announced it is to partner with Zhejiang University on a new centre for transnational entrepreneurship in London.

Cultural collaboration summit at Lancaster House

In the morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Xi at an event where British and Chinese technology and creativity collaborations were showcased.

Before meeting Cameron at Downing Street on the second day of his state visit, the Chinese leader saw British objects ranging from Doctor Who’s Tardis and a Dalek to a prototype zero-emission red London bus.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi is accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan (left) and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they walk past a London bus. Photograph: Frank Augstein/Associated Press

The latter was one of three famous vehicles the royal couple and the Chinese head of state viewed in the courtyard of the historic house, also accompanied by Jackie Chan, the actor and martial artist, who is filming parts of his film The Chinaman in London.

Against a typically British backdrop of persistent rain, they also viewed a black cab and an Aston Martin sports car – all either prototype zero-emission vehicles or capable of producing no emissions.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a Bafta presentation at Lancaster House in London. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Companies and institutions had set up stands to highlight their products and services at Lancaster House in central London, as an Anglo-Sino deal worth £325m was to be signed in “creative and technology partnerships” such as low-carbon taxis, zero-emission sports cars, and a TV training programme.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Xi Jingping is flanked by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a Doctor Who display. Photograph: Heathcliff O'Malley/AFP/Getty Images

Aston Martin has announced a £50m deal with China Equity to develop its zero-emission RapidE car.



London Taxi Company owner Geely, a Chinese business, has also announced a further £50m investment to enhance its research capabilities and launch a new fleet of zero emission-capable black cabs.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge view the Aston Martin DB10 with Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Lancaster House. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Sajid Javid, the business secretary, said such global partnerships were essential in building “a Britain that is stronger, more prosperous and full of opportunity”.

John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, said of the new collaborations – which include the £200m TV training programme with China Capital Investment Group at the University of York: “These new collaborations with China mark yet another step forward for UK innovation. By sharing our skills and expertise we can enter markets we wouldn’t have dreamed of entering a decade ago, and reach people who have yet to experience the magic of British film, theatre or video games.”

In a boost for the Duke of Cambridge, whose efforts to curtail the illegal wildlife trade saw him give a speech on the issue earlier this week, palace officials said a major Chinese firm would be offering financial support to his charity.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcome the Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the creative collaborations event. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The firm Sanpower will work with the royal foundation United for Wildlife, headed by the Cambridges and Prince Harry. Charity officials said a donation from Sanpower would be used to create two regional ranger training facilities in eastern and southern Africa.

Further business meetings and banquets



Xi will then visit Huawei Technologies, a leading Chinese telecommunications company, followed by a banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor and the City of London at the Guildhall.

