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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| UK government and business in push for China trade | UK government and business in push for China trade |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Vince Cable are in China as part of a high-profile UK government and trade mission designed to ramp up business with China. | Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Vince Cable are in China as part of a high-profile UK government and trade mission designed to ramp up business with China. |
| On Tuesday, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, will join them, and the 50 British business leaders on the trip. | On Tuesday, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, will join them, and the 50 British business leaders on the trip. |
| As well as trying to boost business, Mr Cameron will also raise the issue of China's human rights record. | As well as trying to boost business, Mr Cameron will also raise the issue of China's human rights record. |
| The visit is his second major trip to an emerging economy since taking power. | The visit is his second major trip to an emerging economy since taking power. |
| It follows a high-profile visit to India in July. | It follows a high-profile visit to India in July. |
| Mr Cameron's office said he would challenge China on its human rights record, but was not specific about which subjects he would raise. | Mr Cameron's office said he would challenge China on its human rights record, but was not specific about which subjects he would raise. |
| Trade deals | |
| Mr Cameron's coalition government has made broadening global trade links a priority, with particular emphasis on the fast-growing developing markets typified by China and India, both of whose economies are growing strongly. | Mr Cameron's coalition government has made broadening global trade links a priority, with particular emphasis on the fast-growing developing markets typified by China and India, both of whose economies are growing strongly. |
| Currently, exports to China, although growing fast, are relatively small compared with other markets. For example, the UK exports twice as much to the Irish Republic than to China. | Currently, exports to China, although growing fast, are relatively small compared with other markets. For example, the UK exports twice as much to the Irish Republic than to China. |
| The BBC's business editor, Robert Peston, points out that the trade gap with China is substantial. | The BBC's business editor, Robert Peston, points out that the trade gap with China is substantial. |
| "In 2009 we sold £8.7bn of tangibles and intangibles to China, and we bought three times as much, £25.8bn, from the Chinese," he says. | "In 2009 we sold £8.7bn of tangibles and intangibles to China, and we bought three times as much, £25.8bn, from the Chinese," he says. |
| "Although over 10 years our sales of goods and services to China have increased by a seemingly healthy 4.6 times, imports have risen by a far greater multiple, 6.6 times." | "Although over 10 years our sales of goods and services to China have increased by a seemingly healthy 4.6 times, imports have risen by a far greater multiple, 6.6 times." |
| Business Secretary Vince Cable said China had huge potential. | Business Secretary Vince Cable said China had huge potential. |
| "There are about 15 business deals that the group are working their way through today, you know everything from coal gasification technology to architects to an auto-collaboration to work with Tesco and agreements between University College London and Chinese universities," he said. | "There are about 15 business deals that the group are working their way through today, you know everything from coal gasification technology to architects to an auto-collaboration to work with Tesco and agreements between University College London and Chinese universities," he said. |
| Among those taking part in the visit are executives from companies including Rolls-Royce, Barclays and Diageo. | Among those taking part in the visit are executives from companies including Rolls-Royce, Barclays and Diageo. |
| Some deals have already been announced. | Some deals have already been announced. |
| The business secretary earlier signed an agreement that will allow the export of British breeding pigs to China, home to half of the world's pig population. | The business secretary earlier signed an agreement that will allow the export of British breeding pigs to China, home to half of the world's pig population. |
| That deal - and future business stemming from the agreement - is valued at about £45m to the British pig industry over the next five years. | That deal - and future business stemming from the agreement - is valued at about £45m to the British pig industry over the next five years. |
| The Chinese and British authorities also reached a deal to ensure only whisky produced in Scotland will be marketed in China as Scotch, a move some estimate will increase sales by tens of millions of pounds. | The Chinese and British authorities also reached a deal to ensure only whisky produced in Scotland will be marketed in China as Scotch, a move some estimate will increase sales by tens of millions of pounds. |
| Some of the other deals include: | Some of the other deals include: |
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| France has already secured £16bn worth of deals with China following a visit by Chinese president Hu Jintao to that country last week. | |
| Robert Peston asked Vince Cable if the UK would get anything like that much business. | |
| Mr Cable said he was not chasing any particular figure: "We're not trying to compete with the French to produce some big number that may or may not mean anything. | |
| "I do know there are a lot of very productive investments from deals that are under discussion." |