George Osborne moves to thaw diplomatic freeze with China

The Government attempted to draw a line under the freeze in diplomatic relations with China today as George Osborne said Britain is determined to move on from the row.

The Chancellor said the UK should show respect for a “deep and ancient civilisation” as Beijing tackled its problems in its own way.

“There is a bit of a British attitude which treats China as a sort of sweatshop on the Pearl river. One of the things I am trying to do this week is to change British attitudes to China,” he said.

His five-day-long trip is designed to pave the way for a visit by David Cameron, who has not visited the country for three years and abandoned a trip there this year amid anger over his talks with the Dalai Lama.