British PM to continue 'golden era' of China ties

By Zhang Lulu
Print E-mail China.org.cn, September 6, 2016
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British Prime Minister Theresa May attends a press conference during the G20 summit held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday. [Photo by Zhang Lulu/China.org.cn]

British Prime Minister Theresa May pledged on Monday that she will build on the "golden era" of ties between China and the UK, which she said go beyond the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power project.

In July, May delayed a decision on whether or not to give the go-ahead to the £18 billion (US$23 billion) Hinkley Point C project, which was to be partially funded by a Chinese company.

At a press conference during the G20 summit held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, May said that relations between China and the UK are "about more than Hinkley."

"If you look at the investment that is from China in various other parts of the United Kingdom – infrastructure and so forth in the UK -- we have built a global strategic partnership with China. I've been clear we will be continuing that global strategic partnership with China," she said during her first trip to China.

The Hinkley project was agreed upon by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron during what he called a "golden era" of ties between the two countries, but it has been put under review since May took office two months ago. May said the final decision would be made later this month.

May is keen to assuage the fallout of Brexit at her debut at the G20 summit. She said she had talked to leaders from India, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore, which are "willing to open trade agreements with the UK."

She said she also talked to Japanese Prime Minister Shino Abe and that they'll be "working together to ensure [they] can maintain and build on relations," after Japan issued a warning about the Brexit impact on Japanese firms in the UK.

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