• Burmese
Saturday, December 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
30 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Asia

UK PM May Says She Wants Free Trade Deal with China

by Reuters
January 31, 2018
in Asia
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Britain's Prime Minister Teresa May. / Reuters

Britain's Prime Minister Teresa May. / Reuters

3.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

WUHAN, China — Britain is seeking a free trade agreement with China, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday as she flew to the country for talks with Chinese leaders, adding that more should be done immediately to open up market access for British firms.

The ambitious long-term goal of securing a free trade deal with the world’s second-largest economy comes as May begins a three-day visit to China accompanied by businesses from sectors where Britain feels it can capitalize on China’s growing middle class consumers and rapidly expanding services sector.

RelatedPosts

ASEAN Urged to Stop Calling For ‘Inclusive Talks’ Between Myanmar Junta and Its Victims

ASEAN Urged to Stop Calling For ‘Inclusive Talks’ Between Myanmar Junta and Its Victims

December 2, 2023
52
Myanmar’s Junta Faces an Increase in Resistance Attacks in Yangon, Reports Say

Myanmar’s Junta Faces an Increase in Resistance Attacks in Yangon, Reports Say

December 1, 2023
4.1k
Pro-Junta Party Leader Assassinated in Myanmar

Pro-Junta Party Leader Assassinated in Myanmar

December 1, 2023
4k

“China is a country that we want to do a trade deal with,” May told reporters aboard her Royal Air Force jet on the way to Wuhan – a university city where she will announce half a billion pounds worth of education deals.

“But, I think that there is more we can be doing in the interim…in terms of looking at potential barriers to trade and the opening up of markets to ensure…British businesses able to do good trade into China.”

China accounts for just a small proportion of British exports, 3.1 percent in 2016, compared with 43 percent for the European Union.

While diplomatic sources say China has expressed willingness to talk about a future free trade deal with Britain, formal talks cannot begin until Britain officially leaves the EU next year. Free trade talks typically take many years to conclude.

Britain has also pushed a strong message to Chinese companies that it is fully open for business.

Notable Chinese investments in Britain include the Hinkley C nuclear power station which is being built by China General Nuclear Power Corp and the British arm of France’s EDF while British firms such as Rolls Royce have won large deals from Chinese firms to supply items like plane engines.

Both May and senior Chinese officials have restated their commitment to a “golden era” in ties but a row over May’s decision to delay approval for the Chinese-funded Hinkley nuclear plant in late 2016 chilled relations.

However, Britain was the first Western country to sign up to the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Britain sent Finance Minister Philip Hammond to a Beijing summit last year about President Xi Jinping’s flagship ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ – a trillion-dollar infrastructure-led push to build a modern Silk Road.

May said the Belt and Road had huge potential, but cautioned that the project had to be carried out in the proper way.

“What I would like to see is ensuring that we have transparency and international standards being adhered to, and I will be discussing that with my Chinese interlocutors,” she said.

May also said she would raise the future of Hong Kong in her meetings with Xi, underlining Britain’s commitment to the ‘one country, two systems’ rule in the former British colony.

Britain’s last governor in Hong Kong before it was handed back to the Chinese, Chris Patten, had written to May on Monday urging her to raise concerns over the “increasing threats to the basic freedoms, human rights and autonomy” in the territory.

Hong Kong was rocked by pro-democracy protests in 2014 in the largest show of defiance against Beijing rule since 1997. The government has since cracked down on activists, including last week banning one from running in a by-election in March.

“We believe that the future of Hong Kong, that one country, two systems future is important. We are committed to that,” May said.

“I’ve raised this in the past with President Xi, and he’s shown commitment to that but I will continue to raise it with him.”

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Foreign RelationsTrade
Previous Post

Thai PM Calls for More Time In Office to Prepare for Vote

Next Post

Irrawaddy Locals to Name Island in Honor of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Reuters

Reuters

...

Similar Picks:

Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

November 27, 2023
29.5k
General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

General Close to Myanmar Junta Boss Placed Under House Arrest, Interrogated for Corruption

September 14, 2023
23.4k
Singapore and Indonesia in Spotlight Over Illegal Arms Exports to Myanmar

Singapore and Indonesia in Spotlight Over Illegal Arms Exports to Myanmar

October 3, 2023
10.6k
Junta Seeks Brake as Myanmar’s Runaway Trade Deficit Nears $1Bn in Six Months 

Junta Seeks Brake as Myanmar’s Runaway Trade Deficit Nears $1Bn in Six Months 

October 23, 2023
3.7k
Junta Watch: Regime Boss Suffers Historic Humiliation; Dictatorship Thrown Lifelines by Three Allies; and More 

Junta Watch: Regime Boss Suffers Historic Humiliation; Dictatorship Thrown Lifelines by Three Allies; and More 

November 11, 2023
2.6k
Financial Noose Tightens on Myanmar Junta as US Sanctions Bite Again

Financial Noose Tightens on Myanmar Junta as US Sanctions Bite Again

August 17, 2023
2.3k
Load More
Next Post
Pontamau Island in Shwe Thaung Yan. / Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy

Irrawaddy Locals to Name Island in Honor of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Vehicles stop at the entrance to the Kings Romans casino. / Reuters

US Sanctions Laos-based ‘Criminal Organization’

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar’s Junta And Its Military Face Annihilation, Arakan Army Says

1 week ago
18.9k
Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

Illusion of Myanmar Military’s Indispensability Has Been Shattered

4 days ago
5.3k

Most Read

  • Myanmar’s Civilian Government Takes Control of Seized Funds

    Myanmar’s Civilian Government Takes Control of Seized Funds

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar’s Junta Faces an Increase in Resistance Attacks in Yangon, Reports Say

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pro-Junta Party Leader Assassinated in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Junta Bombardments in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Spark Mass Exodus

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • As Myanmar’s Junta Loses Control, Its Coup Leader Ratchets Up His Blame Game

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.