George Osborne arrived in Beijing yesterday to proclaim the advent of “a golden decade” in Sino-British relations, strengthening his role as a leading advocate of China and its slowing economy.
While geopolitical tensions have soured relations between China and the US, Mr Osborne sees his five-day visit as an untrammelled opportunity to boost British trade and secure investment. Asked if he would raise the Chinese military build-up in the South China Sea, cyber-hacking or the recent devaluation of the renminbi, the chancellor’s allies suggested any uncomfortable messages would be delivered in private.
“This visit is primarily focused on our annual economic and financial dialogue, but these are of course important issues that are raised in the appropriate way,” said an aide to the chancellor.