Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua told visiting British Trade Minister Liam Fox on Thursday that China wanted to “fully strengthen” its trade and business ties with Britain, as London prepares to leave the EU. Britain has pushed a strong message to Chinese companies that it is fully open for business as it prepares to leave the EU next year, Reuters said. China is also one of the countries with which Britain would like to sign a post-Brexit free trade deal. Last month, China offered Britain talks on a post-Brexit free trade deal. Meeting in Beijing, Hu told Fox that China has always put the relationship with Britain “in an extremely important position.” Formal talks cannot begin until the UK officially leaves the EU.