China’s trade is “more important than ever to the UK” said the British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond at a press conference with China’s Vice-Premier.
Mr Hammond added that it was important for the UK to tap into the Chinese market, with the country’s middle class population expected to reach 600 million, reports the BBC.
Speaking after a meeting with Mr Hammond on his visit to the UK, China’s Vice-Premier, Ma Kai, added,
“China wishes to see a UK and Europe that encourage stability and high prosperity. China will be happy to see the UK and Europe reaches a win-win relationship through negotiation.”
Writing in the Financial Times in August, Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK, said: "If Britain's openness is a condition for bilateral co-operation, then mutual trust is the very foundation on which this is built.
"Right now, the China-UK relationship is at a crucial historical juncture. Mutual trust should be treasured even more."