{{A Chinese company will be part of a group investing £800m in Manchester Airport to develop its surrounding business.}}
The news was announced as Chancellor George Osborne started a trip to China to promote UK business and encourage Chinese investors to consider the UK.
The move showed a government plan to do more business with the fast-growing economy was working, Mr Osborne said.
London Mayor Boris Johnson is also on a separate six-day visit to China.
He will meet political leaders and business chiefs in an effort to promote the capital’s trade with the country.
Manchester Airport Group will work with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) as well as the UK’s Carillion Plc and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to develop the ‘Airport City’ project.
The development surrounding Britain’s third busiest airport will include offices, hotels, manufacturing firms, logistics and warehouses. It is hoped that by attracting international businesses some 16,000 jobs could be created.
“I think it shows that our economic plan of doing more business with China and also making sure more economic activity in Britain happens outside the City of London is working,” said Mr Osborne.
“That’s good for Britain and good for British people,” he added.
Mr Xing Yan, managing director of BCEG said “To be included in such an interesting and unique development is a real honour.
“We see our involvement in Airport City as an extension of the memorandum of understanding between China and the UK, where we have been looking to further explore joint infrastructure opportunities for some time.”
BBC
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