Cameron to promote trade

During his ongoing visit to China, British Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking to attract Chinese investors to his country. Accompanied by a large group of ministers and businesspeople, he met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Cameron has made no secret that the priority of British foreign policy is to boost the country's exports and inward investment.

Speaking before his visit to China, Cameron had said that he wanted "to forge a new relationship with China that would benefit both our countries and bring real rewards for our peoples".

But the Conservative leader has had to wait some time to make this trip because the Chinese leadership was displeased with him for meeting the Dalai Lama in 2012. The British prime minister has now said that he has "no plans to meet the Dalai Lama in the foreseeable future". This statement led to some critics, including the Conservative chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, alleging that Cameron was neglecting human rights in his pursuit of trade deals.