British Energy Secretary to Visit China in March for Restarting Energy Talks and Meeting Investors

Three sources have confirmed that British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is planning to visit China in march. He will be meeting with Chinese investors and restarting talks about energy cooperation. The Labour government wants closer ties with China amid worsening U.S. and EU-China relationships.

British officials said that they wanted to recalibrate some of the positions taken by the former Conservative Party-led Government on China. This includes accepting Chinese investment to create jobs and allowing Chinese companies to provide critical infrastructure such as nuclear power stations.

Two sources confirmed that nuclear power would not be on the agenda when Miliband and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Jianhua meet in Beijing to revive the UK China Energy Dialogue. Instead, collaboration in clean and sustainable energy as well as energy safety will be the main agenda.

One of the sources said that Miliband would pitch Britain at the roundtable to Chinese investors on the same day. The sources, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that Miliband will only be in China for 2 days, and will visit Beijing.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of Britain did not respond immediately to a comment request. (Reporting and editing by Lincoln Feast in Beijing, with Joe Cash reporting from Beijing)

(source: Reuters)