Relations back on fast track

Cameron's fence-mending trip has opened the door for the UK and China to tap the potential of the complementary economies

David Cameron, prime minister of the United Kingdom, has wrapped up a three-day visit to China with a bumper diplomatic harvest. A series of remarks and moves he made before and during the visit, as well as his high pre-visit expectations, the large delegation and handsome trade order he brought with him, and the use of a Chinese micro blog to make public his agenda, have formed a more positive image of the UK among the Chinese people.

Cameron's visit, which integrated fence mending with achieving economic goals, was a show of the UK's sophisticated and adept diplomatic skills. But behind the skilled diplomacy was the desire to derive trade benefits from its dealings with China.