Chinese and UK firms cooperate on deals worth half a billion pounds

In a day of significant financial news, British farmers also hear beef exports to China could restart by the end of the year

Deals worth more than 500 million pounds ($628 million) between Chinese and British businesses were announced on Monday during Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua's visit to the United Kingdom to co-chair the 10th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue alongside UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Hu said the two nations agreed to 69 policy outcomes during fruitful discussions on the macroeconomic situation and global economic governance, trade and investment, megaproject cooperation, and financial cooperation, as well as cooperation in new fields and those of strategic significance.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UK at the charge d'affaires level, which ushers in new opportunities for deepening China-Britain pragmatic cooperation, Hu added.

Hammond hailed the dialogue as a "great success", adding that the UK's economic relationship with China is "key to our global future".

Britain is looking to bolster trade ties with major economies as it prepares to leave the European Union.

In total, the deals are expected to deliver 175 new jobs in the UK, and significant wins for the financial services sector as well as for enterprises in the education, creative enterprises, food and agriculture, and technology sectors.

A landmark market access agreement for British farmers was also announced on Monday that was supported by the Department for International Trade and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which could put UK producers on track to export British beef and pork to China by the end of 2019. The agreement is expected to be worth an estimated 230 million pounds in the first five years and is likely to offer a significant boost to the UK's farming sector.

Founded in 2008, the economic and financial dialogue serves as an important mechanism for bilateral communication and policy coordination between China and Britain in the areas of economic and financial issues of strategic significance that have a long-term and overarching bearing.

Christopher Bovis, a professor of international business law at the University of Hull, said: "The 10th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue signifies the importance of the future Sino-UK trade relations, with an emphasis on large infrastructure projects and financial services. Both economic sectors will benefit enormously from Chinese investment in the UK and China is expected to reciprocate with more market access to its evolving economy."