Highlights of China-UK economic and trade ties

British Prime Minister Theresa May's upcoming official visit to China, the first since she took office in 2016, is set to chart a new course for bilateral relations.

Britain is China's second largest trading partner within the European Union (EU) and China is Britain's second largest non-EU trading partner. Trade volume between the two countries hit 79 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, up nearly 6.2 percent from the previous year, with Britain's exports to China increasing 19.4 percent.

More than 500 Chinese enterprises have set up their offices in Britain, with a total of 21.8 billion dollars invested in projects ranging from traditional areas like trade, finance and telecommunications to such emerging areas as new energy, high-end manufacturing, infrastructure and research centers.

1. First China-Britain freight train

A freight train from Yiwu City in east China's Zhejiang Province, arrives in Barking, east London, Britain, on Jan. 18, 2017. After its 18-day journey, the first freight train from China to Britain arrived in London on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first freight train from China to Britain departed east China's Yiwu city in Zhejiang province and arrived in Barking, east London, Britain, on Jan. 18, 2017 after a 18-day journey.

The first China-bound freight train carrying British products left DP World London Gateway terminal on April 10, 2017 and arrived at Yiwu after a 19-day journey.

London is the 15th city in Europe added to the China-Europe freight train services.