British Prime Minister Theresa May paid a visit to China from January 31 to February 2， 2018.
　　This is May’s first official visit to China since she took office in 2016. She kicked off her visit in the city of Wuhan， and was accompanied by leaders of over 50 British business and commercial organizations. She also visited Beijing and Shanghai.
　　Chinese President Xi Jinping， when meeting with May in Beijing， called on the two sides to forge an enhanced version of the “golden era” for bilateral ties. May said Britain is a defender of free trade and is ready to cooperate with China on multiple fronts and intensify coordination on major global and regional issues.
　　Deals worth about ￡9 billion （US $12.6 billion） were signed in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation， finance， innovation， agriculture， and technology during May’s trip.
　　The China Development Bank and Standard Chartered Bank inked a deal worth RMB 10 billion （US $1.6 billion） to facilitate projects under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
　　In the face of a rise in protectionism， China and Britain， two of the world’s major economies， remain at the forefront of safeguarding openness and free trade.