David Cameron to head UK Belt and Road investment fund
CGTN's Nicholas Moore
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Former British prime minister David Cameron will lead a 750 million pounds (one billion US dollars) investment fund linking the UK with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in his first major role since resigning as PM in 2016.
Cameron’s role in the fund was announced following Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s visit to Beijing last week, which saw the two sides vow to strengthen economic and financial cooperation.
Hammond was in the Chinese capital to attend the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, and spoke to the media alongside Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai. 
Ma and Hammond announced that both sides would look to speed up the introduction of the London-Shanghai Stock Connect program, which would be mutually beneficial to a post-Brexit Britain and a China that is looking to further open up its markets.
Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai (L3) with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (R2) /VCG Photo‍

Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai (L3) with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (R2) /VCG Photo‍

Ma and Hammond also announced moves for banks from both sides to better cooperate and increase their presence and activity in the other country, as well as an agreement on a feasibility study into a Mutual Recognition of Funds, opening up China to the UK’s asset management sector.
Hammond looked to underscore the importance of the Golden Era of China-UK relations, and that will be backed up by increased cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. The investment fund to be led by Cameron will focus on improving infrastructure along the Belt and Road route, with the UK saying the initiative will boost UK jobs and trade links.
The role of London as a global financial center can contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, with the City establishing a board of experts to focus specifically on the initiative. The UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue saw Standard Chartered Bank commit to facilitating at least 20 billion US dollars of funding to the Belt and Road Initiative by 2020.
/VCG Photo

/VCG Photo

Hammond can return to the UK having held, in his own words, “successful talks [which] are an example of Global Britain at its best.” 1.4 billion pounds’ (1.87 billion US dollars) worth of agreements between Chinese and UK companies were signed during his trip to Beijing, while both sides committed to further cooperation on industrial strategy and energy.
For China, having the world’s sixth largest economy as a close partner on key strategies like the Belt and Road Initiative provides greater momentum for the country and its economy opening up further, as outlined by President Xi Jinping during the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress in October.