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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China's president Xi Jinping in Manchester as part of UK visit | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China's president Xi Jinping will be in Manchester as he comes to the end of his UK visit. A mixture of excitement and protest is expected for what is believed to be the first time the city has hosted a state visit. | |
| It comes as the government is trying to persuade the Chinese to invest in the region's economy. | It comes as the government is trying to persuade the Chinese to invest in the region's economy. |
| About 230 people will sit down for lunch in Manchester Town Hall to watch civic history in the making. | About 230 people will sit down for lunch in Manchester Town Hall to watch civic history in the making. |
| Local dignitaries and business people will break bread with President Xi and David Cameron, and witness the state visit. | Local dignitaries and business people will break bread with President Xi and David Cameron, and witness the state visit. |
| He will also visit Manchester City's stadium and Manchester University. | He will also visit Manchester City's stadium and Manchester University. |
| It is not a coincidence the city is being placed on the diplomatic map. | It is not a coincidence the city is being placed on the diplomatic map. |
| The Chancellor and MP for nearby Tatton, George Osborne, has been ambitious in marketing the "Northern Powerhouse" - his strategy to strengthen the economy in the north of England. | The Chancellor and MP for nearby Tatton, George Osborne, has been ambitious in marketing the "Northern Powerhouse" - his strategy to strengthen the economy in the north of England. |
| 'Sales pitch' | 'Sales pitch' |
| Last month Mr Osborne visited China to build economic and political links, and he took local government leaders from northern England with him - a sales pitch for the "Northern Powerhouse". | Last month Mr Osborne visited China to build economic and political links, and he took local government leaders from northern England with him - a sales pitch for the "Northern Powerhouse". |
| On the final day in Chengdu, Mr Osborne even published a catalogue offering the Chinese a range of investment opportunities. | On the final day in Chengdu, Mr Osborne even published a catalogue offering the Chinese a range of investment opportunities. |
| Part of the Chancellor's problem is that he is ambitious. Creating a "Northern Powerhouse" would reverse a historic economic decline. | Part of the Chancellor's problem is that he is ambitious. Creating a "Northern Powerhouse" would reverse a historic economic decline. |
| An important part of the strategy rests on creating new transport infrastructure. None of this is cheap. | An important part of the strategy rests on creating new transport infrastructure. None of this is cheap. |
| But at the same time, George Osborne has pledged to eliminate the budget deficit. | But at the same time, George Osborne has pledged to eliminate the budget deficit. |
| That's why he's turning to others for the finance. And China has plenty of spare cash. | That's why he's turning to others for the finance. And China has plenty of spare cash. |
| Capital investments | Capital investments |
| But while the Chinese have shown a willingness to invest in property schemes such as Manchester Airport City or Middlewood Locks in Salford, there does not appear to be as much enthusiasm to put cash into infrastructure. | But while the Chinese have shown a willingness to invest in property schemes such as Manchester Airport City or Middlewood Locks in Salford, there does not appear to be as much enthusiasm to put cash into infrastructure. |
| Will that change? | Will that change? |
| It would be odd if President Xi did not come bearing gifts. But the main announcement expected is new direct flights between Manchester and Beijing. | It would be odd if President Xi did not come bearing gifts. But the main announcement expected is new direct flights between Manchester and Beijing. |
| That will be a welcome boost, calculated to be worth about £50m per year to the regional economy. But it does not feel like a breakthrough announcement. | That will be a welcome boost, calculated to be worth about £50m per year to the regional economy. But it does not feel like a breakthrough announcement. |
| The reality is that George Osborne has spent a lot of political capital building links with China. And he will need a fair bit of Chinese financial capital in return to convince critics that it was worth it. | The reality is that George Osborne has spent a lot of political capital building links with China. And he will need a fair bit of Chinese financial capital in return to convince critics that it was worth it. |
| China and the UK | China 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 visit | Banquets and tiaras: China reacts to Xi UK visit |
| China and 'the Osborne Doctrine' | China and 'the Osborne Doctrine' |
| How China guards the Xi creation myth | How 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? |