Thank you.
I know that, at least since the 1970s, we have been involved in an accelerated push to try and increase trade relations with China in the hope that this will bring social and political changes to the country. I know that the second point does not concern us directly, but let's say that it is our overall objective.
In this mad dash towards more liberal trade with the People's Republic of China, the Prime Minister threw out a clearly premature idea on his last trip to China, the idea of a free-trade agreement, which got a cold reception from President Xi Jinping.
Was the Prime Minister's statement a prepared one? Had the ground been prepared with Chinese authorities?
What was the stumbling block for the Prime Minister's initiative?