China-UK relations likely unaffected by election

People pass by a poster van in London on Thursday. The British general election is one of the closest in recent history. [Photo By Wang Mingjie/for China Daily]

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The results of the British general election will not change current China-UK relations significantly, analysts and business leaders predicted.

Months of campaigns and debates came to an end on Thursday at the polling booths. But as the election is one of the closest in recent history, observers said it likely will result in a "hung Parliament" in which no party controls a majority of seats.

However, "all political parties now acknowledge the importance of working with China on trade, education and other issues", said Rana Mitter, professor of the history and politics of modern China at the University of Oxford.

For example, the Conservatives made the value of UK-China relations clear after David Cameron's visit to Beijing in 2013, and Liam Byrne, a senior figure in the Labour party, has written a book about the importance of working with China, Mitter said.

Mark Boleat, chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee with the City of London Corporation, said that China's strong ties with the UK are expected to remain the same no matter which party wins the election.