UK-China ties will go from strength to strength

At the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Theresa May visited China to open a new chapter in the "Golden Era" of UK-China relations. I am pleased to return to China this week at what is a crucial moment in our relationship.

We want an economic partnership that delivers the maximum possible benefits for both the United Kingdom and the European Union, while respecting the integrity of each other's institutions and autonomy. This is in the EU's interests as well as ours - after all, the EU is the UK's biggest market, and the UK is also a big market for the EU.

In terms of our future security partnership, we have been clear that our commitment to the defense of Europe is unconditional and immovable. Negotiations have covered many complex issues, and the UK and the EU recently reached an agreement on the terms of a time-limited implementation period from next year for Britain's ultimate exit from the EU. This not only provides stability in the short term, but represents the beginning of life outside the EU - serving as a platform on which we build our future relationship not just with the EU, but with other economies too.