Countries like Australia, France, Germany, the United States and the European Commission are yet to give their unqualified backing to this huge project.Britain is reportedly insistent that the project is carried out in a transparent manner and adheres to international standards.One official was quoted as saying, "It's about ensuring the tendering process is fair and equitable. "Prime Minister May is not the first world leader to raise concerns about intellectual property theft with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang . President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have also done so.During her interaction with the media after bilateral delegation-level talks with the Chinese, May said, "As partners committed to global free trade, we can work to ensure that as our companies innovate and develop new products, they are confident that their intellectual property and rights will be fully protected, including against cyber threats. "Britain and China, however, appear to be in agreement about tackling unfair trade practices.Both sides have agreed to carry out a joint trade and investment review to identify priorities for promoting growth in goods, services and investment. The issue of dealing with human rights abuses as well as the threat posed by North Korea was also flagged during the visit.

Source: Economic Times February 02, 2018 04:07 UTC