cheap airfare travel: China and UK in ?1bn trade deal

Premier Wen is on a three-day visit to the UK

China's Premier Wen Jiabao will meet David Cameron at Downing Street later as he continues his three-day visit to the UK.

He has already said he wants to welcome more UK products to China and is expected to sign a deal to boost trade.

On Sunday he visited the Longbridge MG car plant, where he faced a small human rights protest.

Downing Street said there was potential to create more jobs and investment opportunities for British businesses.

The two leaders are expected to sign an agreement to help UK companies work with China's regional cities, in architecture, civil engineering and research and development.

British poultry farmers are being allowed to export to China and the visit is expected to see agreements reached for the supply of pigs.

Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague are due to join Mr Cameron for the talks and Mr Wen is accompanied by other senior members of the Chinese government.

They are also likely to discuss improving cultural and educational relationships between China and the UK and global issues such as international security and climate change.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "China's rapid economic rise is good news for the UK. It means more money flowing into our economies and has the potential to create more jobs and investment opportunities for British business at home and in China.

"The summit will be an opportunity to tap that potential and to continue to work closely with China to find global solutions to a range of issues from climate change to global security."

It follows Mr Wen's visit to Longbridge and to Stratford-Upon-Avon - the Chinese premier is a lifelong fan of William Shakespeare.

He is also believed to be leading a Chinese bid for work on the HS2 high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham.

While economic, commercial and political ties are the focus of the visit, Britain remains concerned about China's human rights record and the issue is expected to be raised in talks, says the BBC's Adam Mynott.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.