Xi Jinping plays down China's economic 'growing pains'

Chinese leader says ahead of UK visit that he will focus on increasing overseas trade relationships, including starting a 'golden era' with Britain

Xi Jinping has acknowledged that China's leaders are concerned about the economy, but described the problems as "growing pains", as he prepared to leave for his first state visit to the UK, bringing with him billions of pounds of planned investment.

In the wake of stock market jitters that rocked China and the wider region recently, and with imminent growth figures likely to confirm the slowest growth rate since 2009, the Chinese president said China was looking to external deal-making with countries such as Britain as a way of diversifying its economic base.

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