China and Britain will sign agreements worth US$2.4 billion in the
fields of aerospace technology and banking next week.
Christopher Hum, British ambassador to China, said on Friday in
Beijing that the protocols will be reached on Tuesday during
British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to China, following a
talk with his Chinese counterpart, Wen
Jiabao, in Beijing.
No further details were available on Friday night.
Hum said a very solid personal relationship has developed
between the two leaders. This will be their third meeting as prime
ministers.
Hum noted a business delegation of 37 people, mainly chiefs or
chief executive officers of British companies, will be in Blair's
entourage. They cover a wide range of companies in areas such as
banking, insurance, manufacturing, engineering and retailing.
Blair will arrive in Beijing on Monday to attend the eighth
EU-China Summit.
Serge Abou, ambassador of the EU delegation of the European
Commission, said the summit will present several achievements.
A wealth of agreements are expected to be sealed in such fields
as employment and social benefits, space exploration, geographical
indication and maritime transport.
Abou said the EU has decided to invest 55 million euros (US$68
million) in two projects to protect the biodiversity of China's two
biggest waterways the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.
He noted that there would be another significant loan worth 550
million euros (US$680 million) offered by the European Investment
Bank to China for the expansion of Beijing Capital International
Airport.
(China Daily September 3, 2005)