China in Limelight, Oct. 18, 2015
Chinese President Xi Jinping is to pay his first state visit to Britain from Oct. 19 to 23. Xi's UK trip has already attracted global attention.
The New York Times (NYT) said that Britain will put commerce with China first in President Xi's state visit.
Preparing for Xi's visit, the British chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was hoping to secure contracts for British construction companies in an ambitious project under which Xinjiang is to become a gateway for roads, rails and pipelines linking China to Europe through Central Asia.
"Let's stick together to make Britain China's best partner in the West," Mr. Osborne said in effusive language that American officials would be unlikely to use with China.
The Telegraph focused on "Pomp, pageantry and pounds for China's first state visit in a decade," saying that Xi will be given the royal tour and a stake in some of Britain's biggest investment projects.
The red carpet will be rolled out next week for China's first state visit in a decade. Everything from the type of fish served at the palace banquet to President Xi Jinping's personal supply of bottled water has been planned in exhausting detail.
The UK establishment extends an invitation to just one or two official state visits every year, and the Chinese stay has been proffered with all the available fanfare. Prince William travelled to Beijing in March to personally deliver the request, known as a manu Chinese President Xi Jinping, because it is written in the Queen's hand.
The Guardian said that on the eve of his first state visit to the UK, the Chinese president speaks in glowing terms about the prospect of closer ties between London and Beijing.
The trip, Xi's first to Britain in more than two decades, has been hailed by British and Chinese officials as the start of a "golden era" of relations which the Treasury hopes will make China Britain's second biggest trade partner within 10 years.
"The UK has stated that it will be the western country that is most open to China," Xi told Reuters in a rare written interview published on the eve of his departure.
"This is a visionary and strategic choice that fully meets Britain's own long-term interest."
The Financial Times (FT) paid attention to BP, which is willing to strengthen ties with China.
"BP is to strengthen its links with China's CNPC, the country's state-owned oil group, under an agreement that could see them jointly develop new projects in China and elsewhere," the FT said.
The co-operation deal, expected to be unveiled next week during president Xi Jinping's state visit to London, will include a broad commitment to establish new joint ventures, according to industry insiders.
It could pave the way for investment in West Africa, Iraq or other areas of the Middle East, though the collapse in crude prices is likely to make any sizeable spending a more distant prospect. No production targets or investment figures will be announced.
[编辑： 彭亚君 ]