British Ambassador responds to UK Parliament’s report
British Ambassador today (6 June) responds to UK Parliament’s report on Foreign Investment in Critical National Infrastructure.
British Ambassador responds to UK Parliament’s report on Foreign Investment in Critical National Infrastructure.
In response to the UK Parliament’s report on Foreign Investment in Critical National Infrastructure, British Ambassador, Sebastian Wood, today said:
The UK government strongly supports inward investment from China. Our openness to investment sets us apart from many other countries. We believe that the best way to develop the global economy is through free and open markets.
Today’s report mentions Huawei. Huawei is a long-term valued investor in the UK with a business that is growing and creating jobs in Britain. Huawei’s choice of the UK reflects the UK’s reputation as a global hub for technology, innovation and design.
The government works with the major communication service providers in the UK to ensure that their networks and the services they provide are appropriately secure. Our work with Huawei and their UK customers gives us confidence that the networks in the UK that use Huawei equipment are safe and secure.
The UK is home to over 400 mainland Chinese companies including Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), China Mobile, China Telecom, Huawei, ZTE and Chang’an Automobile Group.
Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne also responded to the report. He said:
The message is simple. Inward investment is critical to generating UK jobs and growth. It is a personal priority of mine to increase trade links between the UK and China and I cannot emphasise enough that the UK is open to Chinese investment. That is why I am pleased that next week Huawei is opening a flagship office in Reading as part of its plan to invest £1.3 billion into its UK business over the next five years, generating a further 700 jobs.