China's Xi says goodbye to queen, holds talks with Cameron

[webfact]

China's Xi says goodbye to queen, holds talks with Cameron
By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the fight against war and terrorism — and had a drink in a pub — with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday during a state visit hailed as a landmark by both nations.

The two leaders met for talks and dinner at the prime minister's official country residence, Chequers. Beforehand, Cameron took Xi to a traditional pub nearby for a pint of English ale and a taste of British fish and chips.

In a joint statement before the meeting, they said stronger U.K.-China ties were of "global significance and strategic importance."

The Chinese president's visit has drawn protests in the streets and criticism in Parliament. But Cameron and Xi downplayed their differences over issues such as human rights, promising a relationship of "mutual respect" that recognized "the importance each side attaches to its own political system, development path, core interests and major concerns."

Cameron's office said Thursday's talks would focus on international affairs and how China can help battle extremism.

Western governments are keenly interested in China's response to the war in Syria. China had joined Russia to block a series of Western resolutions at the United Nations against Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. Russia has stepped up a military intervention in Syria that it says targets the Islamic State group but that Britain and others say seeks to prop up Assad.

Earlier, Xi and his wife said goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II after spending two nights as the monarch's guest at Buckingham Palace. Xi will visit the northwest England city of Manchester on Friday to end his four-day trip.

Xi has been greeted with elaborate British pomp and ceremony on the state visit, the first by a Chinese leader to Britain in a decade.

The two countries signed more than 30 billion pounds ($46 billion) in trade agreements — including a contentious nuclear power deal — as Cameron said Britain sought to be China's "partner of choice" in the West.

There have also been protests by human rights activists and pro-Tibet groups, and opposition politicians have urged Cameron to press Xi on China's rights record.

The trip has dominated state media in China, where the Communist Party newspaper Global Times said "the Sino-U.K. relationship will expect the harvest of the 'golden era.'"

It's a marked change in tone from Cameron's trip to China in December 2013, when the Global Times said Britain was an old country, "easily replaceable in China's European foreign policy."


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-23

[cabanlit]

Ignoring the morals of dealing with China, this does show that the UK doesn't need to be in EU to make business deals.

[boomerangutang]

From the little I've seen/heard about Cameron, I give him a 4 out of 5 on international affairs, and a 2 out of 5 on backbone. I think he's too willing to bend over backwards to accommodate foreign heads of state. To his credit, he can't be as soft as the 'Pewter Lady' Marge Thatcher, who gave away Hong Kong with a phone call. No matter that the treaty ceded HK (south of Boundary Road) to the UK 'IN PERPETUITY'. What will Cameron give to Xi? .....Philippine's Spratly Islands ?

[NeverSure]

It just shows how irrelevant the UK has become on the world stage. It has to kiss up to a failing China to try to jump start its trade.

If the UK would only manufacture something of value to trade, it might be a fair deal, but China just wants to sell its shit.

Every country that has gotten into bed with China has lost and that includes the US. So many jobs have gone to China. (This is part of Trump's appeal to Americans.) Australia's deal for natural resources hasn't worked out because China isn't a reliable buyer. Now Australia is stuck. If Australia would only use those natural resources to manufacture something of value to trade, things could change.

China wants all of the resources and all of the manufacturing it can get and it doesn't hesitate to walk on other countries to get there.

Cameron is an idiot.

Cheers.

[Srikcir]

The British are the ultimate in diplomatic showboating. The Chinese Politburo can pretend its members are pseudo princes of some grand chinese empire. But it's easy to be impressed by a real 1,000-year monarchy.

Bully for the Queen and Cameron.

[meltingpot2015]

Ignoring the morals of dealing with China, this does show that the UK doesn't need to be in EU to make business deals.

If only we were dealing with morals. China is signatory to many international conventions. e.g. Convention against Corruption, the convention against torture, the convention on the rights of the child ...see a more complete list here:

http://www.hrichina.org/en/un-treaty-bodies-and-china

As for the comment about leaving the EU, the Chinese president thinks its best if UK stay, for strengthening and playing a key role in deepening the Sino-European relationship.

Ignore other leaders (mind you, with a dose of navel-gazing easily done) and the results can't (won't) be good.

Edited October 24, 2015 by meltingpot2015

[Soutpeel]

Ignoring the morals of dealing with China, this does show that the UK doesn't need to be in EU to make business deals.

Dont see anyone complaining about the morals of the US and UK for that matter when dealing with the Saudi's if your referring to human rights Edited October 24, 2015 by Soutpeel

[champers]

Interesting that a Tory government that would have no truck with Socialism is cosying up to a one party (Communist) regime. This is turning into colonization by the back door; by economic means rather than military. Chinese construction companies are being awarded work in the UK while the UK steel industry goes down the pan due to the Chinese dumping their cheap surplus steel onto European markets.

The Hinkley Point nuclear power station deal; announced this week; is being part funded by the Chinese and the UK government is acting as guarantor. UK investment trusts would not touch this scheme with a barge pole.