By Bochen Han

October 19, 2015

"For the first time in ten years, a Chinese president will set foot in the U.K. on an official visit. The expectations are high for this trip, with officials on both sides anticipating the arrival of a 'golden era' of bilateral relations. In a rare interview with Reuters on the eve of his departure, Chinese President Xi Jinping commended Britain's strategic choice to become 'the Western country that is most open to China.'

The opportunities that China, with an enlarging middle class and an increasing propensity for foreign investment, can offer are widely recognized within the British government. During his tour of China in September, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne unveiled plans to make China the U.K.'s second largest trading partner by 2025. Britain is sparing no expense in making the trip as full of 'pomp and circumstance' as it can get. While Xi was snubbed of the opportunity to address Congress in his visit to the U.S. last month, he was offered the chance to address the British parliament — and will do so on Tuesday, alongside similarly prestigious tasks like dining with the Queen."

Read more:
http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/britains-great-china-debate/

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