Ed Miliband encouraged Chinese involvement in key parts of the UK’s critical infrastructure less than a month before the government wrested control of British Steel from its Beijing shareholders. The energy secretary heralded how “two-way trade and investment can bring mutually beneficial results” and signed an agreement promising “close co-operation” with Beijing in sectors including battery energy storage and offshore wind power during a visit to the country last month, The Times can reveal. Miliband signed a memorandum of understanding on a “clean energy partnership”, the first update to the agreement since the golden era of relations between China and Britain a decade ago. It outlined co-operation in key areas including the power grid, battery storage and offshore wind power. Ministers have taken direct control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe site ADAM VAUGHAN/EPAFresh doubts have been cast
