UK International Trade Secretary visits China and secures major dairy deal
UK International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, visited China earlier this month to discuss strengthening trade and business ties between the UK and China.
While in China Fox met with Chinese Vice-Premier, Hu Chunhua, who emphasised the importance of economic ties between the UK and China.
The highlight of Fox’s visit was the agreement of a deal between the UK and China which will increase UK dairy exports to China. The deal is valued at £240 million over the next five years.
China agreed in July to discuss a free trade agreement with the UK following Brexit, although formal negotiations must wait until the UK has officially left the EU.
China announces plans to increase restrictions on video games to tackle nearsightedness
China’s Ministry of Education has issued instructions for new restrictions on video games in a bid to tackle the issue of nearsightedness, particularly in children, which is now seen as a major public health issue. This follows a statement from Chinese President Xi Jinping stating that the issue needs to be treated with greater importance.
Around half of Chinese people over the age of five are thought to suffer from nearsightedness and the popularity of video games and the ubiquity of smartphones are thought to be among the main causes.
Following the Ministry of Education’s announcement the value of Chinese tech giant Tencent fell by $20 million. Online video games are a major part of Tencent’s business model, and any restrictions could have a major impact on the company’s profits.
International pressure on China increases over the mass detention of Uighurs
In its strongest statement on the matter yet, the UN has stated alarm at China’s mass arrest of Uighurs in its western region of Xinjiang. Reports suggest that up to one million Uighurs, a Muslim minority native to China’s north-west, have been detained in re-education camps as part of counter terrorism measures.
This follows the Chinese authorities’ decision to reject the visa renewal of Buzzfeed journalist Megha Rajagopalan, a US national, whose in depth reports on China’s policies in Xinjiang had raised the international focus on the issue. The US Embassy in Beijing has stated deep concern about the journalist’s expulsion. The Chinese government have refuted claims that the expulsion is in retaliation for the journalist’s coverage on Xinjiang.
Meanwhile…
A fish and chip shop in North Yorkshire has risen to fame due to its popularity with Chinese tourists.
Scotts Fish and Chips near York has been receiving coachloads of Chinese tourists on a regular basis. The owners even decided to translate their menus into Chinese in order to help their customers.
The popularity of fish and chips among Chinese visiting the UK is thought to have increased since Xi Jinping’s visit to the UK in 2015, when he famously ate the UK’s most famous dish with then Prime Minister David Cameron.
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