cool_hand Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/china-well-help-britain-build-hs2-rail-line-8977508.html China today revealed it wants to pour billions of pounds into the HS2 rail line between London and the North. Chinese premier Li Keqiang declared that his country could fund or even help to build the troubled project. He appeared to take British ministers by surprise, with officials in London saying there was no deal on the table. Chinese investment could prove controversial by enlarging the foreign stake in major British infrastructure, including nuclear power. David Cameron said “no country in the world is more open to Chinese investment than the UK”. The dramatic exchange came at the start of the biggest trade delegation yet to China, with the Prime Minister taking 131 business figures on his plane. Political opposition to High Speed 2 sharpened with a think-tank that has close links to the Lib-Dem leadership calling for it to be scrapped. The Centre Forum report said the money could be better spent elsewhere. “The current £50 billion plus price tag on HS2 would fund a large number of worthwhile projects if HS2 were scrapped,” it said. After talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Mr Li said: “The two sides have agreed to push for breakthroughs and progress in the co-operation between our enterprises on nuclear power and high-speed rail. “The Chinese side is willing to not only participate in but also purchase equities and stocks in UK power projects.” Over the past five years China has built the largest high-speed rail network in the world covering nearly 6,000 miles of track and is now attempting to sell its technologies to countries from Brazil to Thailand. But its record was marred by a crash which killed at least 40 people in 2011 and a corruption scandal. Britain’s Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited Beijing to hold talks with the Chinese government in October. Mr Cameron said last week that he would welcome any potential Chinese involvement in HS2. “I’m very interested in what’s happening in terms of high-speed rail in China,” he said during a visit to a Chinese exhibition at the V&A. “It seems to be an absolute high-speed revolution taking place. In terms of HS2, I very much welcome Chinese investment into British infrastructure.” Mr Cameron is attempting to use his second official visit to China to win deals and mend fences following his controversial meeting with Tibet’s spiritual leader Dalai Lama last year. In a sharp dig at other EU leaders who are suspicious of what they see as Chinese expansionism, Mr Cameron said he was “proud of Chinese investment” in Britain covering such areas such as energy and construction. He added he would be pushing for a comprehensive EU/China trade deal. “Some in Europe and elsewhere see the world changing and want to shut China off behind a bamboo curtain of trade barriers,” he said. “Britain wants to tear those trade barriers down.” Mr Cameron, who arrived in Beijing pledging to act as China’s strongest advocate in the West, started the day by visiting the Chinese headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover. He then met Mr Li at the Great Hall of the People for talks and lunch. A Union Jack was displayed near a portrait of late Mao Zedong. Mr Cameron is due to have dinner with president Xi Jinping before heading to Shanghai. During his press conference Mr Cameron made only a passing mention of human rights. The Prime Minister opened his remarks at the Great Hall of the People by echoing Mr Xi’s call for a Chinese dream. He said: “China’s transformation is one of the defining facts of our lifetime. The pace and scale of economic development and urbanisation dwarfs the British industrial revolution of two centuries ago. “I see China’s rise as an opportunity not just for the people of this country but for Britain and for the world. “Britain wants China to realise its dream and I believe we can help each other succeed in the global race. “An open Britain is the ideal partner for an opening China ... No country in the world is more open to Chinese investment than the UK.” Why we're already selling most of central London off to foreign investors so no reason to stop. Cameron has to go, to the gallows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zugzwang Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Red Ed = Bad. Red China = Good. Vote UKIP = Best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cool_hand Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecrashingisles Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Empire's aren't what they were, or are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashinmattress Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 (edited) Vote UKIP = Best. Bookmakers still have poor odds on UKIP gaining anything more than a seat or two. All they will do is split the conservative vote, ensuring a Labour (yuk) majority. EDIT: I should add that everybody could have a chance, including UKIP, but far too many folk bought the establishments argument that proportional representation was the devil... You get red or blue next time. Period. Edited December 2, 2013 by cashinmattress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_renting Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 If we are going to deal with China at this level, the standards of corruption need to be harmonised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikhail Liebenstein Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 If we are going to deal with China at this level, the standards of corruption need to be harmonised. What makes you think they aren't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormymonday_2011 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) A British Conservative politicians sucking up to the CCP . Wonder how that is going down in Washington ? My advice is don't take up hill walking Cameron. BTW am I alone in seeing the sudden interest in the British establishment in China as a huge negative signal for the Chinese economy since our f*ckwits only get involved in monumental failures. In next weeks news Cameron agrees that British taxpayers should bail out insolvent Chinese state banks. Edited December 3, 2013 by stormymonday_2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCountOfNowhere Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 The UK is desperate. This wont end well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 I mean, the Chinese have such high construction standards, and clearly have every known reason in the entire universe to get up North quicker. Perhaps they know something we don't and Birmingham has been identified as the safest place on Earth in the event of a nuclear catastrophe? There's a great all you can eat place there I can recommend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interestrateripoff Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 snap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 snap Ha ha, bring it on suckers! I am so glad I don't have children to care about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singlemalt Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 Since the Chinese are funding it they might as well build it as well. At least it'd be complete in 5 years instead of 25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 If you want to f*ck the Chinese economy send them 10,000 Prince 2 Project Managers from the Public Sector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 The Chinese at least have a more beautiful dream of this country than we do. I, for one, welcome their twee visions of pubs and cricket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinAndPlatonic Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 So we are the Chinese takeaway then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 If you want to f*ck the Chinese economy send them 10,000 Prince 2 Project Managers from the Public Sector. ARF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonkers Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 The chow mainline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeFall Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 If you want to f*ck the Chinese economy send them 10,000 Prince 2 Project Managers from the Public Sector. Don't foprget to include the ITIL folks as well - they add enormous value to the process.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Blizzard) Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 We have all the engineering expertise, and the government can borrow money at ~0%, what exactly do we need from the Chinese? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crash2006 Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 If we are going to deal with China at this level, the standards of corruption need to be harmonised. Yes, China needs some catching up to get near the UK level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappycocco Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 So basically they're betting on us inflating away our debt and massive increases in asset prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zugzwang Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 We have all the engineering expertise, and the government can borrow money at ~0%, what exactly do we need from the Chinese? The UK has borrowed the thick end of a trillion quid in the course of last five years. No govt can run primary deficits of 7-8% indefinitely. Not that the Chinese economy is any more soundly financed. Via a network of shadow banks and property funds, it too is being kept upright unsustainably. Hard to say which criminal enterprise is greater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCountOfNowhere Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) http://news.sky.com/story/1176976/chinas-uk-is-no-big-power-snub-to-cameron The man from China, he says bù. "Chinese state media has dismissed the UK as "just an old European country" that is only fit for studying and travel amid David Cameron's visit to the country to strengthen ties." Edited December 3, 2013 by TheCountOfNowhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
“Nasty Piece of work” Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 I bet Cameron was bullied remorselessly, this is one more reason why that fat face warmly deserves a fist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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