PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

By Bridget O'Donnell, February 5, 2018

1 0

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May concluded her whirlwind three-day trip to China late last week, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hitting up some of the big tourist spots in Shanghai and Beijing before she returned back to the UK.

On February 1, Xi and wife Peng Liyuan invited May and her husband Philip to a quick afternoon tea session.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai and Beijing

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

"I want to step up our relationship with China as it opens up its markets, spreads its prosperity and embraces free trade," May was quoted as saying during her Beijing leg of the tour.

Like other world leaders before her, May also got a super VIP tour of the Forbidden City.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

That same day, May also stopped by the National Agricultural Science & Tech Demonstration Park in Beijing.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

The Maybot even got to see a traditional lion dance at the British ambassador's residence in the capital!

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

The day prior, May also met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang for the annual China-Britain dialogue, held at the Great Hall of the People.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

After a brief stay in Beijing, May headed down Shanghai for the China-UK Business Forum, which was held on February 2.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

Finally, May and her husband headed over to the Yu Gardens to make traditonal paper cuts. No doubt all the tourists were probably excited to see 'Auntie May' walking around the bazaar.

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

PHOTOS: UK PM Theresa May Visits Shanghai & Beijing, Meets with Xi Jinping

During the trip, May gifted Xi with a DVD boxset of the BBC documentary series Blue Earth II. In exchange, the UK got Chinese celeb actress Angelababy as an official tourism ambassador.

Angelababy Theresa May United Kingdom UK Tourism Ambassador

Angelababy Theresa May United Kingdom UK Tourism Ambassador

Angelababy Theresa May United Kingdom UK Tourism Ambassador

Angelababy Theresa May United Kingdom UK Tourism Ambassador

Fair trade-off.

[Images via ECNS, Xinhua, Twitter, Weibo]

more news

This Day in History: Queen Elizabeth II Visits China

Joined by gaffe-prone 'Great Wally of China' Prince Philip.

Travel Gossip: United Airlines Cuts China Flights

Initially planning several route relaunches to China in October, the airline has now revised its schedule dramatically.

This Day in History: Deng Xiaoping's Historic Visit to the US

This was the first time that a top Chinese leader visited America since the founding of the PRC in 1949.

United Family Completes Revolutionary UroLift Prostate Therapy

UroLift – revolutionary minimally invasive prostate therapy.

How Folk Music United Post-COVID-19 Beijing

What the Folk, a folk music night in Beijing that helped post-COVID Beijing slowly recover its great nightlife and music scene.

Shanghai United Family's Tireless Work Over the Pandemic

Resumption of Work & Production & Celebrating Children’s Day with Holistic Developments in Child Healthcare.

This Day in History: Nixon Signs Shanghai Communique

On February 27, 1972, President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai signed the Shanghai Communique, a document that has remained the basis for Sino-American relations ever since.

0 User Comments

In Case You Missed It…

We're on WeChat!

Scan our QR Code at right or follow us at Thats_Shanghai for events, guides, giveaways and much more!

7 Days in Shanghai With thatsmags.com

Weekly updates to your email inbox every Wednesday

Download previous issues

Never miss an issue of That's Shanghai!

Visit the archives