A win-win for Britain and China
- By Tim Collard
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 24, 2015
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and British Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) plant an oak tree symbolizing the China-Britain friendship in Cameron's country retreat, Chequers, Britain, Oct. 22, 2015.(Xinhua/Ju Peng) |
President Xi Jinping is returning home after an impressively smooth State Visit to the UK. The ceremonial of the visit was flawlessly conducted - this is one thing that the British do really well - with a State Banquet hosted by the Queen, meetings with other members of the Royal Family, traditional gun salutes, and an address to Parliament by the Chinese President.
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Tim Collard |
It is clear that the British Government has decided to put its weight behind building a solid relationship with China, and having decided to do so will not adopt half-measures. "The UK has stated that it will be the Western country that is most open to China," President Xi had said before the visit. "This is a visionary and strategic choice that fully conforms with Britain's own long-term interests." Here the two governments are thinking along identical lines.
Of course, observers in both countries and the outside world are speculating on the wider implications of the UK's clearly demonstrated commitment to partnership with China. Analysts in the USA will be particularly concerned. President Xi's visit to the United States last month was rather low-key in tone, taking account of the very real differences in approach between the two countries on several global issues. The British side have portrayed relations with China in a much less critical light. Does this mean a split on China policy between the two Western powers? I do not believe this is necessarily so - the internal political situation in the US in a pre-election year is not so conducive to constructive efforts in foreign policy, and Britain is well-placed to deliver the signal that, whatever difficulties the United States are undergoing, the West is not as a whole inimical to China's international policies. Hence the British decision, earlier this year, to sign up to the AIIB initiative against a background of American scepticism. Britain led Europe on this issue, and it is unsurprising that she now tries to underpin her leading position.
The strongest underlying link between the two countries is in the field of global finance. These are complicated issues, with considerable risk attached; it is probably not realistic to expect more than initial signals in the immediate term. The two leaders will have spoken of plans to issue renminbi-denominated debt in renminbi in London, establishing the city's position as the leading financial centre for renminbi business outside Asia, and also to open more links between the British and Chinese Stock Exchanges.
