Chinese president Xi Jinping continues his first state visit to the UK. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace Thursday before their trip to Manchester.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R) bid farewell to British Queen Elizabeth II (2nd L) and her husband Prince Philip (1st L), Duke of Edinburgh, at Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, Oct. 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
After multi billion-dollar investment deals and agreements ranging from visas to cybersecurity, it was time for a few pints of beer and a basket of fish and chips.
It was a brief moment of respite for Xi and Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron as they chatted with the locals at a country pub just outside of London.
The leaders then traveled to Chequers, the UK Prime Minister's official country residence, to discuss China's growing role in foreign affairs on the international stage. The British government said the war in Syria and rising extremism were also talking points.
While Britain and China disagree on a number of foreign policy issues, they have also worked successfully together over the past few years, including on the negotiations that led to a freezing of Iran's nuclear program.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister David Cameron visit a pub in Princess Risborough, near Chequers, England, on Thursday. [PHOTO BY WU ZHIYI/CHINA DAILY]
Xi also toured the satellite company Inmarsat, perhaps best known for helping in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which disappeared last year. Most of those aboard the doomed plane were from China.
Inmarsat has signed a preliminary deal to roll out satellite mobile broadband across China, with a strong emphasis on the country's one belt one road initiative that aims to strengthen trade links and economic growth.
While in London, Xi also emphasized the need to focus on strengthening cultural ties.
"There are currently more than 150,000 Chinese students studying in the UK. More than 600 primary and secondary schools in this country have opened Chinese language courses, creating a boom of learning Chinese," Xi said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) visits the Mobile Satellite Company in London, Britain, Oct. 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
