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Northern Powerhouse project has 'Chinese backing' - David Cameron Northern Powerhouse project has 'Chinese backing' - David Cameron
(about 1 hour later)
The government's so-called Northern Powerhouse project is gathering strength and now has "Chinese backing", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.The government's so-called Northern Powerhouse project is gathering strength and now has "Chinese backing", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
It comes as the PM and Chinese President Xi Jinping are in Manchester on the last day of Mr Xi's state visit.It comes as the PM and Chinese President Xi Jinping are in Manchester on the last day of Mr Xi's state visit.
Mr Xi has visited Manchester University and joined the prime minister at Manchester City's football academy.Mr Xi has visited Manchester University and joined the prime minister at Manchester City's football academy.
Announcements are expected about new direct flights between Manchester and Beijing as well as education funding. They then visited Manchester Airport and announced plans for direct flights between Manchester and Beijing.
Crowds in Manchester gathered in support of the Chinese president but there have also been protests by groups unhappy with China's human rights record, including one outside Manchester Town Hall.
Mr Xi and Mr Cameron have been visiting Manchester Airport, where the new Hainan Airlines route - which the UK government says will provide a £50m boost to the Manchester economy - was announced by the Chinese president.
It will be the first direct route from outside London in the UK to China and flights are due to begin from June 2016.
Mr Xi and Mr Cameron also announced the £130m "China Cluster" project at Airport City Manchester.
Airport City Manchester is an £800m joint business development between British and Chinese companies.
The China Cluster will provide a commercial base for Chinese businesses arriving in the UK.
Football academyFootball academy
Mr Cameron and Mr Xi met current and former Manchester City and Manchester United players, including Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira, Denis Law and Mike Summerbee, at the Manchester City football academy. Earlier the leaders met current and former Manchester City and Manchester United players, including Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira, Denis Law and Mike Summerbee, at the Manchester City football academy.
The president, who is reportedly a Manchester United fan, was given a tour of City's 80-acre training complex and was shown the last-minute goal that clinched the club the 2012 Premier League title.The president, who is reportedly a Manchester United fan, was given a tour of City's 80-acre training complex and was shown the last-minute goal that clinched the club the 2012 Premier League title.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "I think this is a great day for Manchester and a great day for the whole of the north of England."Speaking after the visit, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "I think this is a great day for Manchester and a great day for the whole of the north of England."
"You can really see the Northern Powerhouse gathering strength and it's now got Chinese backing too," he added."You can really see the Northern Powerhouse gathering strength and it's now got Chinese backing too," he added.
Mr Xi is attending lunch at Manchester Town Hall alongside Mr Cameron and business, civic and community representatives.Mr Xi is attending lunch at Manchester Town Hall alongside Mr Cameron and business, civic and community representatives.
Earlier he joined the Chancellor George Osborne for a visit to the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester. In the morning he joined the Chancellor George Osborne for a visit to the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.
The science institute leads research into graphene, a super-strong, flexible and electrically conductive material.The science institute leads research into graphene, a super-strong, flexible and electrically conductive material.
Mr Osborne said billions of pounds of investment would be coming into northern England, saying there was now "unstoppable momentum" behind the Northern Powerhouse project.Mr Osborne said billions of pounds of investment would be coming into northern England, saying there was now "unstoppable momentum" behind the Northern Powerhouse project.
Mr Xi and Mr Cameron will also visit Manchester Airport, where the new Hainan Airlines route - which the UK government says will provide a £50m boost to the Manchester economy - will be announced.
It will be the first direct route from outside London in the UK to China.
What is the Northern Powerhouse?What is the Northern Powerhouse?
Further deals set to be agreed include the appointing of a Beijing firm BCEG as main contractor for the Middlewood Locks regeneration project in Manchester. The company is expected to provide £4m to kickstart the project. Further expected deals include the appointing of a Beijing firm BCEG as main contractor for the Middlewood Locks regeneration project in Manchester. The company is expected to provide £4m to kickstart the project.
Education partnerships including schools and universities are also set to be agreed.Education partnerships including schools and universities are also set to be agreed.
A series of investment deals have been signed during Mr Xi's four-day visit to the UK, including an agreement with EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) for a nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, Somerset.A series of investment deals have been signed during Mr Xi's four-day visit to the UK, including an agreement with EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) for a nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, Somerset.
However, protests have also been held by groups unhappy with China's human rights record, including one outside Manchester Town Hall on Friday.
China and the UKChina and the UK
What does China own in the UK?What does China own in the UK?
Banquets and tiaras: China reacts to Xi UK visitBanquets and tiaras: China reacts to Xi UK visit
China and 'the Osborne Doctrine'China and 'the Osborne Doctrine'
How China guards the Xi creation mythHow China guards the Xi creation myth
Can UK be China's best partner in the West?Can UK be China's best partner in the West?
Who is President Xi Jinping?Who is President Xi Jinping?
Chequers talksChequers talks
On Wednesday, the two leaders held talks at Chequers focusing on "domestic priorities and foreign policy issues".On Wednesday, the two leaders held talks at Chequers focusing on "domestic priorities and foreign policy issues".
Downing Street said they had agreed that early dialogue between the two countries could help find diplomatic solutions for global and regional security challenges.Downing Street said they had agreed that early dialogue between the two countries could help find diplomatic solutions for global and regional security challenges.
The visit to Manchester came as Mr Osborne announced new devolution deals for the North East of England.The visit to Manchester came as Mr Osborne announced new devolution deals for the North East of England.
The chancellor's measures will mean Newcastle and Sunderland, and Tees Valley will both vote in a directly elected mayor in 2017.The chancellor's measures will mean Newcastle and Sunderland, and Tees Valley will both vote in a directly elected mayor in 2017.
The North East deal will transfer powers over transport, strategic planning, employment and skills from Whitehall to the region.
It enables the authority to create an investment fund with an initial allocation of funding for capital financing of at least £30m a year for 30 years.
The Tees Valley deal will see its investment fund guaranteed at least £15m a year.