Chinese ambassador says relations are at 鈥渉istorical juncture鈥� following surprise review of Somerset nuclear plant

China has warned its deepening business ties with the UK have been put at risk by Theresa May鈥檚 unexpected decision to review the 拢18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear plant scheme in Somerset.

The Chinese ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming has said his country鈥檚 relations with the UK are at a 鈥渃rucial historical juncture鈥� following the government鈥檚 decision last month to review public subsidies promised to the project, which is a third-owned by state-owned China General Nuclear.

Writing in the Financial Times, Xiaoming said: 鈥淚f Britain鈥檚 openness is a condition for bilateral co-operation, then mutual trust is the very foundation on which this is built.鈥�

鈥淩ight now, the China-UK relationship is at a crucial historical juncture. Mutual trust should be treasured even more. I hope the UK will keep its door open to China and that the British government will continue to support Hinkley Point 鈥� and come to a decision as soon as possible so that the project can proceed smoothly.鈥�

Prime minister May is reported to have ordered the last gasp review due to reservations about China taking a large stake in a key piece of UK infrastructure, with Hinkley Point C set to meet 7% of the UK鈥檚 energy needs when and if it completes. The review will conclude in 鈥渆arly autumn鈥�.

The Chinese ambassador鈥檚 intervention comes after a string of major investments by Chinese companies in the UK in recent weeks.

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