London: Prime Minister David Cameron left for China yesterday at the head of the largest ever UK trade delegation as he tries to show off his new policy of business- focused diplomacy.

His delegation includes Paul Walsh of Diageo Plc, Kevin Smith of GKN Plc, Marcus Agius of Barclays Plc, Peter Voser of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Peter Sands of Standard Chartered Plc and Philip Hampton of Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

"This is a vitally important trade mission," Cameron said in an emailed statement. "Our message is simple: Britain is now open for business, has a very business-friendly government, and wants to have a much, much stronger relationship with China."

Britain is relying on exports and investment to keep the economy growing as the deepest budget cuts since the Second World War dim the prospects for consumer spending.

In July, Cameron said he had summoned every ambassador back to London to tell them their job was "winning orders for Britain."

In 2009, Britain had an £18.9 billion (Dh112.1 billion) trade deficit with China, with shipments to the third-largest economy worth less than a quarter of the Chinese goods it imported, according to UK government figures. China ranked sixth among the most active investors in the UK in the 12 months through March, with 74 projects out of a total 1,619.

Obama visit

Cameron travels to China as President Barack Obama undertakes a 10-day, four-nation Asia trip to push exports as a way to create jobs at home and warn against protectionism. He aims to double US exports in five years. Obama held talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi yesterday.

Cameron may have to mend fences during his visit over his statement, during the April general election campaign, that uncertainty over China was one reason for the UK to keep its nuclear weapons.

The prime minister's previous trips abroad have sparked diplomatic rows. In July he told Indian businessmen that Pakistan had been allowed to "look both ways" on terrorism.

A few days earlier, in Turkey, he suggested Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip had turned it into a "prison camp". He later defended his comments as "speaking plainly and clearly".

Also accompanying Cameron will be Business Secretary Vince Cable, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Education Secretary Michael Gove and Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

Stephen Doherty, director of communications at Diageo, said the UK will be raising the company's attempt to acquire a controlling stake in Sichuan Chengdu Quanxing Group Co., currently awaiting regulatory approval.

"We are obviously grateful that the government intends to make representations in support of our position," Doherty said.

"That said, the regulatory decision on this acquisition, and the timing of that decision, are completely a matter for the Chinese authorities."

The bankers will look to sign agreements during the two-day trip to increase the presence of UK institutions, which already account for a quarter of foreign banks in China. Osborne was due to attend the opening of Standard Chartered's new headquarters in Beijing.

"The prime minister, I and the whole government are committed to a close relationship with China," Osborne said on his way to China. "We are determined to be the destination of choice for investors for years to come."

Osborne is scheduled to meet China's top economics official, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, to discuss energy, trade and investment alongside Cable and Huhne and their Chinese counterparts. He will hold a private meeting with Vice-Premier Li Keqiang.

Ministers will also hold talks as Group of 20 leaders prepare to meet in Seoul later this week. They will discuss global economic imbalances and regulation, including systemically important financial institutions that are deemed too big to fail.