Global vision: UK-China relations could enter an era of unprecedented cooperation

Niv Horesh sees an opportunity for Sino-UK ties to hit new highs, benefiting more than just the economy

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But real closeness also requires a narrative of respect for one another's distinct system of governance and sovereignty.

Niv Horesh

Published: 5:45pm, 21 Oct 2015Updated: 12:48pm, 15 Nov 2016

Under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese presence on the world stage and China's significance to sustaining global economic growth are no longer understated. Many more Western analysts now understand that China's economic rise is here to stay, even if, like Japan and Korea previously, the Chinese manufacturing powerhouse cannot grow at a double-digit rate forever.

The "new normal" of economic slowdown in China this year will not erode leaders' determination to move the country up the value chain technologically and institutionally, combat pollution and corruption domestically, and re-engage with Europe on new terms.

Xi met US President Barack Obama last month without any inferiority complex on display, and first lady Peng Liyuan impressed many with a remarkably polished speech at the UN delivered in fluent English. Xi is in Britain this week for a state visit that is very important for both countries, one that can help bring about unprecedented strategic closeness between these two historically improbable partners.

China and Britain can learn a lot from each other's experience: the pitfalls of military overstretch and, more recently, the privatisation of national assets are cases in point

By and large, the British government seems to understand that if the Trans-Pacific Partnership is ratified, the US is likely to divert its attention from Europe and the Middle East to the Pacific Rim very quickly. This will have grave economic and security implications for Europe. It means at the very least that securing Chinese markets and investment is likely to become more important for the British economy over the next few years, especially in view of Russia's confrontational posture under President Vladimir Putin.