Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Hammond of Runnymede and Craig Williams

Tuesday 12th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Craig Williams (Cardiff North) (Con)]

8. What recent assessment he has made of the strength of diplomatic and economic relations between China and the UK.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Philip Hammond)]

Our diplomatic and economic relationships with China are stronger than ever. Last year’s state visit by President Xi Jinping delivered substantial benefits for the UK economy and established a new global partnership. Last week in Beijing I launched a new visa service to boost tourism and business, announced plans to build a new embassy to better serve our interests and reflect the level of our bilateral relationship, and reaffirmed the common approach with a common statement on the Syria crisis. Those are all achievements.

[Craig Williams]

I welcome my right hon. Friend’s recent visit to China. Does he agree that with China set to become the world’s largest economy in the first half of the century we should be using every opportunity to boost our exports to the Chinese market of 1.3 billion people to help secure jobs in my constituency and across the United Kingdom?