China helping clear Brexit storm clouds

Figures point to pretty profits

British exports to China grew by 19.4 percent in 2017, to reach $22.31 billion. Britain's cumulative direct investment in China reached $22.55 billion by the end of 2017, making it the second-largest EU investor in China. China's non-financial direct investment in the UK totaled $1.53 billion last year, while cumulative non-financial direct investment from China to the UK was $19.44 billion by the end of 2017.

During British PM Theresa May's China visit in February, contracts worth 9 billion pounds ($12.8 billion) were signed. The leaders of both countries also agreed on building a "golden era 2.0", which makes reference to the "golden era of relations" coined in 2015 during President Xi Jinping's UK state visit.

In December, the government agency UK Export Finance announced that it will commit 25 billion pounds of funding to support British companies' exports to Belt and Road projects.

The depreciation of the pound since the 2016 referendum has made British investments particularly attractive for Chinese buyers. Notable deals in the property space include CC Land buying the Cheesegrater for 1.15 billion pounds in March 2017, LKK Health Products Group buying 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the Walkie Talkie, for 1.3 billion in July 2017, and Hong Kong CK Asset Holdings buying 5 Broadgate for 1 billion in June.