Chinese Trade With UK Discussed At No 10

Links between China and the UK are being developed as never before with the Prime Minister meeting with a Chinese State Councillor in Downing Street.

The high profile meeting also examined the current world economic crisis with David Cameron and the Councillor Dai Bingguo both giving short speeches, outlining their aims.

Mr Cameron said: "It's a great pleasure to welcome State Councillor Dai to Number 10 Downing Street.

"I think the relationship between Britain and China is at a period of great strength.

"We are partners for growth. We both want to see the complementary strengths of our economies grow together and there's much to talk about there.

"We also have the upcoming G20 where we'll be discussing the stances that we need to take to get the world economy moving to meet all those challenges too," he said.

Mr Cameron continued: "I very much enjoyed my visit to China last year and it's great to welcome you here as I've also welcomed Premier Wen and Vice Premier Li Keqiang and many other Chinese leaders, who are all welcome in Number 10 Downing Street and we've had some very productive and good talks and I look forward to more talks today."

In response, Councillor Dai Bingguo said: "I wish to convey the cordial greetings and best wishes from Premier Wen Jiabao.

"Now, in this year alone, four members of the leadership in the State Council, China's central government, have been to London.

"About half of the State Council leadership has been here and they are all important figures in the Chinese government: the Prime Minister, the Executive Vice Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

"From that, one can see how much importance we attach to our relationship with Britain.

"The China-UK relationship has made advances forward in the 16 months since the coming to government of the coalition government.

"The challenge before us is to build on the good foundation we have and to make new breakthroughs in our relationship," he said.

In another partnership move, the Chinese artistic gymnastics team is to use Northern Ireland as a training base ahead of the London Olympics.

They will be based at the Salto National Gymnastics Centre in Lisburn, Co Antrim which opened in 2007 at a cost of nearly £1.5m.

China's decision to base its gymnasts in Northern Ireland follows that of the Australian boxing team last month.

NI Sports Minister, Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin welcomed the move and said she hoped it would inspire "young people to get involved in sport".

(BMcC/GK)