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UK 'needs Chinese investment', ambassador says | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
China's ambassador to the UK has said that the "UK needs Chinese investment". | China's ambassador to the UK has said that the "UK needs Chinese investment". |
Liu Xiaoming was speaking on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show the day before the start of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK. | |
He said the expected deal to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point was "in the best interests of Britain and also in the interest of partnership between China and UK". | He said the expected deal to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point was "in the best interests of Britain and also in the interest of partnership between China and UK". |
"UK people want to have a better life, want to have clean energy," he said. | "UK people want to have a better life, want to have clean energy," he said. |
In a written answer to the Reuters news agency, President Xi said: "The UK has stated that it will be the Western country that is most open to China. This is a visionary and strategic choice that fully meets Britain's own long-term interest." | |
The Chinese ambassador was also asked whether a UK company would be allowed to build nuclear power plants in China in the way that Chinese firms will be doing in the UK. | |
"Do you have the money first, do you have the technology, do you have expertise?" Mr Liu replied. | "Do you have the money first, do you have the technology, do you have expertise?" Mr Liu replied. |
"If you have all this, we certainly would want to have co-operation with you like the French. We have some co-operation with France." | |
The chief executive of France's EDF said on Sunday he expected an announcement about a deal with Chinese investors to build a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, during the state visit. | The chief executive of France's EDF said on Sunday he expected an announcement about a deal with Chinese investors to build a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, during the state visit. |
"If all goes well, we will be able to announce major news in coming days; the first nuclear new-build in Europe since the Fukushima accident," Jean-Bernard Levy said. | |
The EDF chief defended the £92 per megawatt hour price that the UK government has guaranteed to pay his company. | |
"Britain is not giving guarantees to do us a favour, but because Hinkley Point will provide power 24 hours a day for 60 years. Security of supply has a value," he said. | "Britain is not giving guarantees to do us a favour, but because Hinkley Point will provide power 24 hours a day for 60 years. Security of supply has a value," he said. |
Asked whether he expected the deal to be announced, Mr Liu said: "I certainly hope so because it is a very important project between our two countries." | Asked whether he expected the deal to be announced, Mr Liu said: "I certainly hope so because it is a very important project between our two countries." |
The nuclear plant agreement is one of a number of business deals expected to be signed during the visit. | The nuclear plant agreement is one of a number of business deals expected to be signed during the visit. |
There is also likely to be a strategic alliance between BP and the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to develop oil resources in countries including Iraq. | |
It is reported that BP hopes to use the agreement to improve its chances of expanding its operations in China. |