China-UK (Britain) Geopolitics and Economics: News & Discussions

[Beast]

Teresa shall sack the HJS editor and close down it to shown sincerity about having great r/s and trade with China.
Those ex RN admiral cooking up China threat shall have their pension suspend until they apologize.

 

[war&peace]

Great admiration for Theresa May who has worked tirelessly trying to secure Britain's economic future in the post-Brexit world.

Her government has been trying to secure trade deals with a number of important countries.

Well She has no option, post-BREXIT UK has to secure deals with all the important countries otherwise their economy is doomed without EU.

 

[艹艹艹]

Welcome to China！
Welcome to join the “One Belt, One Road”

China welcomes Britain's May to visit at appropriate time
CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL
2017/02/09
http://gbtimes.com/world/china-welcomes-britains-may-visit-appropriate-time

 

[TaiShang]

Considering this below, greater economic cooperation with the EU and UK makes more sense:

US economic uncertainty 'may hit stocks'
China Daily, February 14, 2017

The Chinese stock market could face downside risks if external factors such as the ambitious economic package and tax reforms under US President Donald Trump's administration to boost the US economy fail to materialize, analysts said on Monday.

Shigeki Sakaki, chief strategist of investment and research division at Nomura Asset Management, warned that the uncertainty over Trump's economic policy is the risk that investors should watch out for in 2017.

In an interview with China Daily in Beijing, Sakaki said: "If the measures taken by Trump do not materialize, market participants may be concerned that a higher inflation rate could weaken US economic growth and they may respond negatively. The Chinese market will perform well if the US market remains relatively robust."

But he warned that any deterioration of the US economic condition could weigh on investors' sentiment in the Asian markets including the A-share market.

China's fast credit expansion in the past few years and the potential asset bubbles will be a source of risk for the Chinese economy this year, Sakaki said.

"The growing debt suggests that this credit cycle may not be sustainable and some adjustments may be needed," he said, adding that coordination between the monetary and fiscal policies by the Chinese authorities will be needed to address the problem.

The People's Bank of China has moved to raise credit costs and tighten credit supply in the interbank market to push for financial deleveraging and to curb risks.

Gao Ting, head of China strategy at UBS Securities, said that the ongoing financial deleveraging and further regulatory tightening could affect investor risk appetite, causing headwinds for A-shares.

The Chinese stock market has been propelled higher as sentiment toward the outlook of the Chinese economy has turned positive with better-than-expected trade data in January and the expectation for Trump's tax plan to boost the US economy.

Lukman Otunuga, a research analyst at FXTM Ltd, an online currency trader, said: "If this pattern of stabilizing economic domestic data and optimism over global growth persists, then the Shanghai Composite Index could be elevated further in the shorter term."

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Teresa shall sack the HJS editor and close down it to shown sincerity about having great r/s and trade with China.
Those ex RN admiral cooking up China threat shall have their pension suspend until they apologize.

You realize that Britain is not China?

In Britain there are things called, "freedom of speech," "rule of law," "separation of powers" etc.

Theresa May has no powers on what another person writes, and if she tries anything like what you said, she would be deserted by her own party, and thrown out as the PM.

 

[mike2000 is back]

China rules! Western democracy is a failure. Britain has awake(Brexit). US has awake too(Trump elected).

I think that's an exaggeration some of you are making here ( I don't understand the reason for this ). What do you mean by Western democracy is a failure? You want us to adopt dictatorship/one man rule like the developing world? Lol
The U.S(and E.U) is still out largest trading partner and foreign investor by farrrrrrr. The rest are still far behind to be honest. We are also the largest foreign investor in the U.S by miles.


UK tops out as largest foreign investor in USA at $449 billion – CBI
The UK remains the largest single investor in the United States of America, supporting over one million jobs across the country, according to the CBI’s annual Sterling Assets report.

Examining the impact of British business on the American economy, the report finds that as of the end of 2014, the UK had invested $449 billion in the US - $76 billion more than the next largest investor, Japan, and nearly $200 billion more than America’s neighbour, Canada. This represents a weighty 15% share of the $2.9 trillion of foreign direct investment in America. Indian and Chinese investment was much smaller – combined, it did not even approach 1% of FDI into the US.
Read more: http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/uk-tops-out-as-largest-foreign-investor-in-usa-at-449-billion-cbi/

I'm not even talking about our close defence ties (both countries defence companies invest and cooperate in each other most critical sensitive defence programs,something we don't do with any other country not even our European allies). So our ties with the U.S will still remain and even thrive . However that doesn't means we won't seek to expand our trade and investment ties with other developing countries and partners like China, India, Brasil, Africa (continent though), KSA, Gulf states, Turkey,Indonesia, etc etc. Trying expand our trade with other partners has nothing to do with Western democracy failure or whatever that even means .I really don't know what some of you are even on about to be honest. In business/trade there are no favours, each country needs it. Nobody is doing anyone any favour . Just law of demand and supply and vice versa. Britain is also increasing its investments in China as well. That doesn't means Chinese or Western system is a failure or whatever you meant by that.


UK to 'quadruple' investment in China within five years

China is becoming one of the most buoyant global market for foreign investors
Picture: EPA
By Rebecca Burn-Callander
7:04AM GMT 19 June 2016

UK investors are set to go on an investment bonanza in China, contributing £26bn to its economy by 2020

British investment in China is set to quadruple over the next five years, far outstripping the doubling of foreign direct investment in the fast-growing economy over the same period, a new report as found.

As Chinese investors continue to invest in great swathes of Britain - taking, for example, stakes in cereal-maker Weetabix, Pizza Express, and North Sea oil - UK investors and companies are preparing to return the compliment.

Foreign direct investment from the UK to China totalled nearly £7.7bn($12.5bn) in asset stocks last year, the study by King & Wood Mallesons calculated. But the global law firm expects this to rise to £26bn by 2020 as the Chinese economy opens up to foreign capital. Last year, the UK contributed around 1pc of China’s total foreign direct investment (FDI). In five years, this will rise to 2pc – but of a much larger total.

According to the Branching Out: Investment Opportunities in China in 2020 report, China is becoming one of the most buoyant global market for foreign investors, with opportunities totalling £1.3trillion by 2020, up 95pc on the £667bn-worth of investment recorded in 2014.

While UK investment into the region will rise steeply, it is still dwarved by the capital inflows from Hong Kong, which will represent 63pc of all foreign investment into China by 2020. Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, the US, South Korea, and Germany will also be significant players, each contributing between 6pc and 3pc of total inward investment.

Top Ten Investor Countries in 2014 & 2020 (projected)

The financial services sector will see the greatest leap in investment, rising from just £27.7bn last year to £143.2bn in 2020, an increase of 417pc, thanks to the lifting on restrictions on trading the renminbi, and China’s commitment to financial market reform.This is an area where Britain leads the world and it will encourage British companies to get more involved in Chinese capital markets.

China’s energy industry is set to attract £19.3bn in five years, up from £9.8bn. Life sciences, media and entrainment have also been cited as growth industries by the report.

“Over recent years, the Chinese authorities have taken steps to make investment into China easier and to change investor perceptions of the Chinese market and its opportunities,” said Stuart Fuller, global managing partner at King & Wood Mallesons. “The government has identified a range of areas that need foreign investment so that China can meet domestic demand and successfully rebalance its economy towards quality growth.”

The report contradicts fears that China’s slowing economic growth could dampen investment. Last year, foreign investment in China fell for the first time in May, down 6.7pc on the previous year.

To spur increased foreign direct investment, the Chinese government promised to speed up the construction of railway lines across the country, and build a multi-tier transport system along the Yangtze River. The provinces that line the river deliver some 41pc of China’s gross domestic product.

Last week, the Chinese government also said that that foreign investors will be allowed to “fully own e-commerce companies” in its Shanghai Free Trade Zone, the area set up in September 2013.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...le-investment-in-China-within-five-years.html

No country can live as an islands of itself. We all need other countries cooperation and help to develop.

Teresa shall sack the HJS editor and close down it to shown sincerity about having great r/s and trade with China.
Those ex RN admiral cooking up China threat shall have their pension suspend until they apologize.

Lool You think we are North Korea, Saudi Arabia or Iran?

There's the rule of law and freedom of expression here bro. Our government can't do that even if they wanted to. Else they might cause a public outcry and they might even be deposed from power for that unfortunately.

 

[Beast]

Lool You think we are North Korea, Saudi Arabia or Iran?

There's the rule of law and freedom of expression here bro. Our government can't do that even if they wanted to. Else they might cause a public outcry and they might even be deposed from power for that unfortunately.

Rejecting western democracy automatically does not mean a single person rule dictatorship like North Korea.

In fact, China government is a unique system that has proves itself. A strong central government that do what is right and not what is most popular. Brexit has proves giving too much freedom and no restriction is a failure bound to explode. Western demoncracy of too much media freedom which resulted in unwanted malicious manipulated that is meant to suit certain party agenda.

Trump too is correcting what the American all the whole has sow. The evil is haunting them back. Restricting freedom of movement and protect the citizen.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Rejecting western democracy automatically does not mean a single person rule dictatorship like North Korea.

In fact, China government is a unique system that has proves itself. A strong central government that do what is right and not what is most popular. Brexit has proves giving too much freedom and no restriction is a failure bound to explode. Western demoncracy of too much media freedom which resulted in unwanted malicious manipulated that is meant to suit certain party agenda.

Trump too is correcting what the American all the whole has sow. The evil is haunting them back. Restricting freedom of movement and protect the citizen.

Nope, even your own "system" has too many flaws as well, I can't even begin to list them all. Thing is Western countries have dangled with/tried all major systems of governance including communism(which funny enough was invented in Western Europe before being taken over by Soviet Russia), and We came to the conclusion that Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others, as Churchill famously Said . However, it's the best system of government that provides long term stability and prosperity (depends on level of developmentof the country as well).

 

[AndrewJin]

She will be more at ease staying in the same room with Trump, drama queens duo.

 

[waz]

Excellent news. China is one of our greatest partners, and relations will become that much better with leaving the EU. Chinese tourist numbers are up, strategic projects are on the move and ties have become stronger.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Well She has no option, post-BREXIT UK has to secure deals with all the important countries otherwise their economy is doomed without EU.

Trade and cooperation with E.U is crucial for us just like it's crucial for E.U member states as well. Both sides have much to gain by coming to a sensible understanding/agreement. You should note that some European countries have been facing some economic issues/turmoil these past years way before any Brexit debate(IF ANYTHING BRITAIN HAS BEEN A STANDOUT IN ITS ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND A MAGNET FOR WORKERS IN THE E.U LOOKING FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES) , and any of these countries still face uncertainty and a volatile market/economy. So I believe it's in the interests of both sides to avoid any more uncertainty/turmoil which I'm sure both sides are aware of. Nobody benefits from that. Some politicians from both sides will obviously talk tough to put themselves in a better position before talks (which is normal in diplomacy and important talks), but at the end of the day, believe me they will come to a mutual agreement/understanding and a deal will be signed(both sides might make some concessions here and there) and a few years from now people will forget there was ever a thing like Brexit Making headlines around the world. Lol you know we human beings have a very short memory. Life will carry on like it always does.
The main difference here is that Britain Will have more control and say over the trade deals it will sign in future and the making of its own immigration laws/borders and national law as well.

Plus we will also expand or trade ties/influence and look abroad more often than we would have otherwise . I believe our strong ties with our little cousins AUSTRALIA, New Zealand, Canada and our ties in Asia will also be strengthened even more than they are now. We can work together with the Chinese in this endeavor where necessary.

UK tops list of foreign investments in Australian farmland; China owns 0.5 per cent
BY REGIONAL AFFAIRS REPORTER LUCY BARBOURUPDATED WED SEP 07 09:22:47 EST 2016
Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp

PHOTO
The UK's large stake is thought to be partly due to Australia's colonial past.

GREG OBRIEN: USER SUBMITTED
The Federal Government's long-awaited farm register reveals investors from the United Kingdom have easily the biggest stake in foreign-owned farmland in Australia.

Key points:

• UK top, US second in list of foreign investors in Australian farmland
• "Foreign investment is integral to Australia's economy," Scott Morrison says
• Tasmania has the least amount of foreign-owned farmland

The register, compiled by the Australian Tax Office, shows 13.6 per cent of Australia's farmland is foreign-owned. UK-based investors own 27.5 million hectares or almost 53 per cent of that portion.

The United States is the second highest country on the register, followed by the Netherlands with almost 3 million hectares, Singapore with almost 2 million hectares, and China with 1.5 million hectares — or less than 0.5 per cent of total agricultural land across the country.

The Philippines, Switzerland, Jersey, Indonesia and Japan round out the top 10 foreign buyers.

Interests in the Philippines and Switzerland own 1 million hectares, while Jersey, Indonesia and Japan own just less than that with 0.9 million, 0.8 million and 0.7 million hectares respectively.

But the register does not specify where foreign governments or foreign government investors own land. Much of the public angst about foreign investment is linked to concerns over state-owned enterprises buying Australian farms.

Executive director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh said he was surprised China did not appear to own more.

"It may well be that the Chinese interest has been in industries like the dairy industry and farms in southern Australia, and again they are smaller acreages but perhaps more productive," he said.

"But certainly you would have anticipated that Chinese interests would have been higher up the register than that."

Mr Keogh said the strong UK ownership could be attributed to Australia's colonial past.

"Certainly vestiges are very prominent in ownership of land and also the major pastoral houses in Australia all had English origins, so I guess what we are seeing is a continuation of that historical link that has always been there," he said.

Report shows 'who owns what'
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has been a long-term advocate for the register, said the report provided the basic transparency necessary to ensure oversight and confidence in agricultural investment.

Foreign-owned farmland by state:

• Queensland: 17.7 million hectares
• Northern Territory: 15.2 million hectares
• Western Australia: 8.8 million hectares
• South Australia: 7.2 million hectares
• NSW/ACT: 2.4 million hectares
• Victoria: 607,000 hectares
• Tasmania: 342,000 hectares

"This is the first comprehensive data on the actual level of foreign ownership of agricultural land in Australia," he said in a statement.

"This common perception that the level of foreign ownership has been increasing seems confirmed.

"Previous estimates by ABS surveys found at June 2013, 12.4 per cent or 49.6 million hectares out of 400 million hectares was foreign owned.

"This has also increased on the December 2010 survey estimate of 11.3 per cent or 44.9 million hectares out of 398 million hectares being foreign owned."

But Treasurer Scott Morrison said "foreign investment is integral to Australia's economy."

"It contributes to growth, productivity and creates jobs, but the community must have confidence that this investment is in the national interest," he said.

"With more than $3 trillion worth of foreign investment in Australia today, we cannot afford to risk our economic future by engaging in protectionism."



http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-...-proportion-of-foreign-owned-farmland/7820854​

 

[war&peace]

People have started comparing govt styles and dictatorship vs democracy, which is off topic and derails the discussion so stick to the topic. Regardless of govt styles China and UK have been cooperating with each other and they will continue to do so in the future and I don't know how does the govt style affects that cooperation. At least no official debate is taking place between China-UK or even China-Pakistan about democracy vs dictatorship. I think the Chinese system of government has pros and cons and same goes for UK... and it is not necessary that what works best for China will also work great in UK and vice-versa. Every country has different culture and values...so we should respect each other. BTW democracy has been a failure in Pakistan so far but it is working fine in Europe.

Trade and cooperation with E.U is crucial for us just like it's crucial for E.U member states as well. Both sides have much to gain by coming to a sensible understanding/agreement. You should note that some European countries have been facing some economic issues/turmoil these past years way before any Brexit debate(IF ANYTHING BRITAIN HAS BEEN A STANDOUT IN ITS ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND A MAGNET FOR WORKERS IN THE E.U LOOKING FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES) , and any of these countries still face uncertainty and a volatile market/economy. So I believe it's in the interests of both sides to avoid any more uncertainty/turmoil which I'm sure both sides are aware of. Nobody benefits from that. Some politicians from both sides will obviously talk tough to put themselves in a better position before talks (which is normal in diplomacy and important talks), but at the end of the day, believe me they will come to a mutual agreement/understanding and a deal will be signed(both sides might make some concessions here and there) and a few years from now people will forget there was ever a thing like Brexit Making headlines around the world. Lol you know we human beings have a very short memory. Life will carry on like it always does.
The main difference here is that Britain Will have more control and say over the trade deals it will sign in future and the making of its own immigration laws/borders and national law as well.

Plus we will also expand or trade ties/influence and look abroad more often than we would have otherwise . I believe our strong ties with our little cousins AUSTRALIA, New Zealand, Canada and our ties in Asia will also be strengthened even more than they are now. We can work together with the Chinese in this endeavor where necessary.

UK tops list of foreign investments in Australian farmland; China owns 0.5 per cent
BY REGIONAL AFFAIRS REPORTER LUCY BARBOURUPDATED WED SEP 07 09:22:47 EST 2016
Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp

PHOTO
The UK's large stake is thought to be partly due to Australia's colonial past.

GREG OBRIEN: USER SUBMITTED
The Federal Government's long-awaited farm register reveals investors from the United Kingdom have easily the biggest stake in foreign-owned farmland in Australia.

Key points:

• UK top, US second in list of foreign investors in Australian farmland
• "Foreign investment is integral to Australia's economy," Scott Morrison says
• Tasmania has the least amount of foreign-owned farmland

The register, compiled by the Australian Tax Office, shows 13.6 per cent of Australia's farmland is foreign-owned. UK-based investors own 27.5 million hectares or almost 53 per cent of that portion.

The United States is the second highest country on the register, followed by the Netherlands with almost 3 million hectares, Singapore with almost 2 million hectares, and China with 1.5 million hectares — or less than 0.5 per cent of total agricultural land across the country.

The Philippines, Switzerland, Jersey, Indonesia and Japan round out the top 10 foreign buyers.

Interests in the Philippines and Switzerland own 1 million hectares, while Jersey, Indonesia and Japan own just less than that with 0.9 million, 0.8 million and 0.7 million hectares respectively.

But the register does not specify where foreign governments or foreign government investors own land. Much of the public angst about foreign investment is linked to concerns over state-owned enterprises buying Australian farms.

Executive director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh said he was surprised China did not appear to own more.

"It may well be that the Chinese interest has been in industries like the dairy industry and farms in southern Australia, and again they are smaller acreages but perhaps more productive," he said.

"But certainly you would have anticipated that Chinese interests would have been higher up the register than that."

Mr Keogh said the strong UK ownership could be attributed to Australia's colonial past.

"Certainly vestiges are very prominent in ownership of land and also the major pastoral houses in Australia all had English origins, so I guess what we are seeing is a continuation of that historical link that has always been there," he said.

Report shows 'who owns what'
Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who has been a long-term advocate for the register, said the report provided the basic transparency necessary to ensure oversight and confidence in agricultural investment.

Foreign-owned farmland by state:

• Queensland: 17.7 million hectares
• Northern Territory: 15.2 million hectares
• Western Australia: 8.8 million hectares
• South Australia: 7.2 million hectares
• NSW/ACT: 2.4 million hectares
• Victoria: 607,000 hectares
• Tasmania: 342,000 hectares

"This is the first comprehensive data on the actual level of foreign ownership of agricultural land in Australia," he said in a statement.

"This common perception that the level of foreign ownership has been increasing seems confirmed.

"Previous estimates by ABS surveys found at June 2013, 12.4 per cent or 49.6 million hectares out of 400 million hectares was foreign owned.

"This has also increased on the December 2010 survey estimate of 11.3 per cent or 44.9 million hectares out of 398 million hectares being foreign owned."

But Treasurer Scott Morrison said "foreign investment is integral to Australia's economy."

"It contributes to growth, productivity and creates jobs, but the community must have confidence that this investment is in the national interest," he said.

"With more than $3 trillion worth of foreign investment in Australia today, we cannot afford to risk our economic future by engaging in protectionism."



http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-...-proportion-of-foreign-owned-farmland/7820854​

I am pro-trade especially when it is mutually beneficial. I welcome BREXIT on two levels: first it is the right of British people to decide what they want and secondly, it opens a way for countries to have more fair trade agreements with UK as you know large blocks like EU can undermine equality and exploit their market size in their favour especially vis-a-vis smaller economies.
Pakistan has great relations with China and also UK. Of course there will be some backlash for UK post BREXIT from EEU, because if they provide a very favourable trade agreement to UK, then it will be a bad news for EU and many countries will stage their EXIT from EU. I agree that it won't be a cut off and the trade would continue and EU and UK will remain one of the bigger trading partners simply because of geographic proximity and also historical ties but it won't be better than pre-BREXIT times..However UK will be able to offset that loss through favourable deals with other countries like China, Pakistan, Australia, Canada etc..
So on the whole I see BREXIT to beneficial for UK and the current visit a welcome development between China and UK.

 

[livingdead]

Excellent news. China is one of our greatest partners, and relations will become that much better with leaving the EU. Chinese tourist numbers are up, strategic projects are on the move and ties have become stronger.

there cannot be any substantial deal for 2 years.. this is mere posturing... both to euros and back home... everybody knows UK cannot enter into any negotiation till clarity emerges about how brexit will actually look like.

 

[waz]

there cannot be any substantial deal for 2 years.. this is mere posturing... both to euros and back home... everybody knows UK cannot enter into any negotiation till clarity emerges about how brexit will actually look like.

A working group has already been established, as it has with other key partners such as Australia, Canada and the US. We don't give a toss about what the Euros say, they're sinking in their own quagmire. If we wait for this 2 year period, we will be in a weakened position. Yes no deal can be signed, but things can be in place where a signing will just a be a formality.

 

[mike2000 is back]

A working group has already been established, as it has with other key partners such as Australia, Canada and the US. We don't give a toss about what the Euros say, they're sinking in their own quagmire. If we wait for this 2 year period, we will be in a weaken position. Yes no deal can be signed, but things can be in place where a signing will just a be a formality.

Yes, both you are right. However, what pur Indian friend Hinduguy didn't mention (which you did) is that we can engage in talks for preparation of formally signing a deal after the Brexit process is complete. If anything, I believe the two year needed to complete the exit process is good for us to some extent, since it will help us prepare all the ground works and process needed for all these trade deals .

Even so ,I don't agree with the point you made about E.U sinking per se. Of course some member States have been facing some economic issues like all countries around the world usually do at one point in time(crisis are always cyclical as well). However, I believe they will get through it, and it might actually make them stronger, since it will(it's already) force these countries to make necessary (though painful) reforms which they wouldn't have done otherwise. Plus E.U and U.S will still remain one of our most important market/trading partner for obvious reasons (geographical, political, cultural) , but we will increase our trade and ties drastically with other countries around the world post Brexit. So we shouldn't makey emotional remarks like that just because we might have issues with them at the moment.Its like say the Chinese saying they don't care (and won't be affected) about Japan,S.Korea, Taiwan,Singapore and they can go to hell or whatever just because they don't agree with them on some issues. We all know that's not true, it's just emotional statement people often make, reality is often different. So we should always be pragmatic and rational in the way we go about our national interests.