George Osborne begins China trip to boost trade
Chancellor George Osborne is beginning a trip to China to promote UK business and encourage Chinese investors to consider the UK.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) will sign a deal during the chancellor's visit, which will mean a £650m investment in a business district at Manchester Airport.
ICBC will back a consortium planning to build shops, offices and parkland.
London Mayor Boris Johnson is also on a separate six-day visit to China.
He will meet political leaders and business chiefs in an effort to promote the capital's trade with the country.
During his trip Mr Osborne will visit Beijing and southern China.
Britain is one of the top 10 nations to attract Chinese investment - more than double the investment of any other nation in Europe.
Chinese investment is concentrated in the UK energy sector, although Barclays Bank, BP, Diageo and Thames Water also have Chinese backing.
(continued, UK to be a new import hub for chinese made former US electricals into europe? white goods gotta go somewhere after the default?)
