Beijing - British Prime Minister David Cameron met China's top leader on Wednesday in a bid to boost business ties and told President Hu Jintao he was committed to expanding relations.
Cameron, who is being accompanied by four Cabinet ministers and about 50 business leaders, was to deliver a speech emphasising Britain's importance as a world power and Chinese trading partner after meeting with Hu.
“We put the highest value on the Britain-China relationship, I hope that this visit will further strengthen it,” Cameron told Hu at the start of their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, home to China's legislature in the heart of the capital.
Human rights and global security concerns surrounding Iran and North Korea appear to have taken a back seat during the China visit, although Cameron has said he would raise those issues in his talks with Wen and Hu.
Last year, China was Britain's third-largest source of imports and ninth-largest export market. Cameron has said he hopes to see annual bilateral trade double by 2015 to more than $100 billion, including $30 billion per year in British exports.
Among the contracts signed so far is a $1.2 billion deal for jet engine maker Rolls-Royce to provide engines for 16 A330 jets operated by China Eastern Airlines.
On Tuesday, Cameron met with Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People after a formal welcoming ceremony.
“My new government does highly value the relationship between Britain and China, and we believe that this is an area where there should be great continuity with the last government who helped establish this very strong relationship,” he said.
The two-day visit is Cameron's second major foray to court an emerging economy since taking office in May. He went to India in July. - Sapa-AP