China plans to sign trade and investment cooperation agreements with Britain during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's upcoming visit to the country, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.
These outcome documents will help create new growth drivers for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson made the remarks in response to a media inquiry.
"China attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with Britain and is actively working with Britain to prepare for the economic and trade cooperation outcomes from the visit, as well as a meeting of Chinese and British entrepreneurs," the spokesperson said.
Chinese and British companies have shown keen interests in the meeting, and more than 100 of them have registered to attend, the spokesperson added.
According to the spokesperson, the economic and trade relations between China and Britain have maintained sound and steady development. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods reached 103.7 billion U.S. dollars, trade in services is projected to exceed 30 billion U.S. dollars, and the stock of two-way investment is nearly 68 billion U.S. dollars.
Britain has served as the guest of honor at the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade and the Fourth China International Consumer Goods Fair, demonstrating the vibrant and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with the British economic and trade authorities to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen communication on economic and trade policies, create a fair and transparent business environment under the rule of law for cooperation between enterprises of both sides, and continuously elevate bilateral economic and trade relations to new heights, said the spokesperson.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the British prime minister will pay an official visit to China from Jan. 28 to 31, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced earlier Tuesday.
It will mark the first visit by a British prime minister to China in eight years.
China strives to create new growth drivers for economic, trade cooperation with Britain: commerce ministry
Emergency measures are being put in place to help urban areas across China cope with sweltering daytime temperatures as a severe heatwave grips multiple regions of the country, with local community rest stations being set up to shield residents and provide much-needed respite to outdoor workers amid the scorching weather.
Large swathes of the country are baking as the summer heat takes hold. According to the Central Meteorological Observatory of China, eight of the top ten hottest areas nationwide on Wednesday were in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where Turpan and Toksun both recorded temperatures above 44.5 degrees Celsius.
The intense heat is unlikely to let up anytime soon, as Hami Meteorological Station has issued a red alert and is forecasting that temperatures in Hami City will exceed 40 degrees Celsius from Wednesday to Sunday.
In an effort to combat the heatwave, the local sanitation department has deployed multiple sprinkler and spray trucks to cover major roads in downtown Hami to help with dust suppression and road surface cooling, while upping the frequency of operations.
Persistent high temperatures have also affected many areas in the southwestern Sichuan Province, with some weather stations recording maximum highs exceeding 42 degrees Celsius and weather alerts being issued in numerous cities.
In Guang'an City, the mercury had already soared to 38 degrees Celsius by 10:00 Wednesday morning, pointing to a long, hot day ahead.
However, the county has opened nearly 350 'rest stations' to help local people escape the heat. These air-conditioned cooling points, equipped with fans, drinking water, emergency medicines, and seating, provide much-needed rest areas for outdoor workers such as delivery drivers and couriers, as well as to the elderly and other passersby.
"This round of high temperatures is characterized by its long duration, high temperatures, and the oppressive, muggy conditions, impacting outdoor workers and the elderly the most," said Yu Jilin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Wusheng County Federation of Trade Unions.
In the neighboring Chongqing Municipality, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on the same day.
At the exit of a busy highway in Wuxi County, heat waves shimmered on the road surface amid heavy traffic. Police officers on duty were busy checking vehicles under the scorching sun, focusing on any potential safety hazards in passenger and freight vehicles, while enduring the sizzling weather themselves.
"The main issue is the high temperature -- surface temperatures can reach over 50 degrees Celsius. Whenever we are on duty, the exhaust from passing fuel-powered vehicles feels scorching hot against our bodies," said Lin Xianyong, an auxiliary police officer.
Air-conditioned "rest stations" set up to provide respite as scorching heatwave grips China
