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| Government says links with China are vital after Hinkley Point warning | Government says links with China are vital after Hinkley Point warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government has emphasised its determination to retain positive economic links with China after Beijing’s ambassador warned that cancelling the Hinkley Point C nuclear project could jeopardise relations. | The government has emphasised its determination to retain positive economic links with China after Beijing’s ambassador warned that cancelling the Hinkley Point C nuclear project could jeopardise relations. |
| Liu Xiaoming used an article in the Financial Times on Tuesday to warn that Theresa May’s decision to delay a final decision on Hinkley had placed ties between the UK and China at a “critical juncture”. | Liu Xiaoming used an article in the Financial Times on Tuesday to warn that Theresa May’s decision to delay a final decision on Hinkley had placed ties between the UK and China at a “critical juncture”. |
| However, a government spokeswoman said: “As we’ve already made clear, this decision is about a huge infrastructure project and it’s right that the new government carefully considers it. | However, a government spokeswoman said: “As we’ve already made clear, this decision is about a huge infrastructure project and it’s right that the new government carefully considers it. |
| “We cooperate with China on a broad range of areas from the global economy to international issues and we will continue to seek a strong relationship with China.” | “We cooperate with China on a broad range of areas from the global economy to international issues and we will continue to seek a strong relationship with China.” |
| Related: China-UK investment: key questions following Hinkley Point C delay | |
| In the article, in which he placed the project at the centre of Britain’s evolving trade relationship with China, Xiaoming wrote: “If Britain’s openness is a condition for bilateral cooperation, then mutual trust is the very foundation on which this is built. | In the article, in which he placed the project at the centre of Britain’s evolving trade relationship with China, Xiaoming wrote: “If Britain’s openness is a condition for bilateral cooperation, 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. I hope the UK will keep its door open to China and that the British government will continue to support Hinkley Point – and come to a decision as soon as possible so that the project can proceed smoothly.” | “Right now, the China-UK relationship is at a crucial historical juncture. Mutual trust should be treasured even more. I hope the UK will keep its door open to China and that the British government will continue to support Hinkley Point – and come to a decision as soon as possible so that the project can proceed smoothly.” |
| George Osborne, the former chancellor sacked by May in one of her first acts as prime minister, had hoped the high-profile project would help usher in a “golden decade” in relations with China, and toured the country last year touting opportunities for Chinese investors in the UK. | George Osborne, the former chancellor sacked by May in one of her first acts as prime minister, had hoped the high-profile project would help usher in a “golden decade” in relations with China, and toured the country last year touting opportunities for Chinese investors in the UK. |
| Such was Osborne’s enthusiasm for striking deals with China that the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, quoted Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book across the dispatch box at him at last year’s autumn statement. | Such was Osborne’s enthusiasm for striking deals with China that the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, quoted Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book across the dispatch box at him at last year’s autumn statement. |
| But May is thought to have concerns about security issues raised by China playing a role in such a critical piece of national infrastructure and whether the project represents value for money. | But May is thought to have concerns about security issues raised by China playing a role in such a critical piece of national infrastructure and whether the project represents value for money. |
| The shadow business secretary, Jon Trickett, said the new economic climate created by Britain’s planned exit from the EU meant maintaining positive relations with Beijing was more important than ever. | The shadow business secretary, Jon Trickett, said the new economic climate created by Britain’s planned exit from the EU meant maintaining positive relations with Beijing was more important than ever. |
| “During the referendum, one of the few firm proposals coming from the Brexit camp was that Britain’s economic prosperity outside of Europe could be secured by furthering our relations with China and other large, fast-growing economies in the east. | “During the referendum, one of the few firm proposals coming from the Brexit camp was that Britain’s economic prosperity outside of Europe could be secured by furthering our relations with China and other large, fast-growing economies in the east. |
| Related: Britain has struck out for a special relationship with China. If only we knew the way | Tania Branigan | |
| “Today we see that the prime minister has put that – and £40bn of inward investment – in jeopardy by bungling negotiations over Hinkley Point,” he said. | “Today we see that the prime minister has put that – and £40bn of inward investment – in jeopardy by bungling negotiations over Hinkley Point,” he said. |
| Meanwhile, French unions have said the decision by the energy firm EDF to invest in Hinkley Point C should be declared invalid. | Meanwhile, French unions have said the decision by the energy firm EDF to invest in Hinkley Point C should be declared invalid. |
| Three unions at the French state-owned firm said senior board members knew the British government was considering delaying its final decision but nothing was said before last month’s vote on whether EDF should back the project. | Three unions at the French state-owned firm said senior board members knew the British government was considering delaying its final decision but nothing was said before last month’s vote on whether EDF should back the project. |
| Jean-Bernard Lévy, the chairman and chief executive of EDF, wrote to board members last week, saying he knew about the delay before the board approved building and co-funding the first British nuclear site in a generation. And just hours before a signing ceremony was due to take place at the site in Somerset, May put off government approval until early autumn. | Jean-Bernard Lévy, the chairman and chief executive of EDF, wrote to board members last week, saying he knew about the delay before the board approved building and co-funding the first British nuclear site in a generation. And just hours before a signing ceremony was due to take place at the site in Somerset, May put off government approval until early autumn. |