Dawn of a new era

Deals to generate jobs

As of Oct 21, Beijing and London had secured deals worth about 40 billion pounds ($62 billion; 54.5 billion euros), and according to the British government, the cash generated by the new deals will help create 3,900 jobs across the UK.

Also on Oct 21, Xi held talks with Cameron at 10 Downing Street, and the two countries agreed to upgrade their ties to a "global comprehensive strategic partnership" in the 21st century.

Key pacts signed that day include an agreement inked by Chinese and French companies to build a British nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in southwestern England.

In the presence of Xi and Cameron, China General Nuclear Power Corp and Electricite de France signed a strategic investment agreement.

According to the agreement, the CGN-led Chinese consortium takes a 33.5 percent stake and EDF takes 66.5 percent in the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project.

Cameron described the deal as "historic" as the project would provide reliable, affordable energy to nearly 6 million homes and create more than 25,000 jobs.

At a joint news conference following the talks, Cameron said: "Our relationship goes beyond trade and investment." He called China and Britain "global powers" with shared interests in a stable and modern world.

According to a statement issued after the Xi-Cameron meeting, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and enhance communication and cooperation on such issues as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, international economic and financial governance, climate change and peacekeeping.

Britain is ready to expand cooperation with China in finance, energy, creative industry and in visa policy, Cameron said during his talks with Xi.

Xi said the two countries would open up a golden era of an enduring, inclusive and win-win relationship and jointly create a brighter future for bilateral relations.