Chinese delegation should have come to Birmingham, business leaders say

BUSINESS leaders in Birmingham said today they were disappointed that the Chinese leader and his delegation is not visiting the city this week.

Reports have suggested that the Chinese group were keen to visit this area, which has an export surplus with China of around £2.76bn, but Chancellor George Osborne persuaded them to visit Manchester instead.
 
President Xi Jinping will be Manchester, the heartland of the “Northern Powerhouse”, on Friday.
 
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), said: “We are told that the Chinese themselves wanted to visit the city and this made absolute sense given the huge investment they already have here in the “Midlands Engine”.
 
“They are predicted to be investing heavily in rail and infrastructure projects in the West Midlands and, of course, they are in line for HS2 contracts.
 
“The West Midlands exports £5.3bn worth of goods to China, compared to a UK deficit of £20bn. This is largely based on a Far East love affair with Jaguars, Land Rovers and JCBs, so what better place for the Chinese leader and his party to visit than the West Midlands?
 
“We feel they have missed a great opportunity to further strengthen links between the West Midlands and China.”