One group of British businesses is sure to do well from what is billed as a “Second Wave” of Chinese expansion into the UK: florists. The opening of an engineering research centre in Nottingham by Chang'an Automobile, one of China's largest carmakers, featured as many cut flowers as an operatic opening night.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony a fortnight ago celebrated the opening of an outpost that Chang'an hopes will help it move up the value chain by assimilating western technology.
Liu Bo, assistant president of Chang'an, said: “This centre will enable us to optimise engine and transmission technology. We expect to have 200 employees here by 2014, most of them local.”