Chinese Premier Li Keqiang accompanies British Prime Minister David Cameron to view an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony inside the Great Hall of the People on December 2, 2013 in Beijing, China. At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, British Prime Minister David Cameron will pay an official visit to China from December 2 to 4.Photo: CE.cn

Britain will act as China's strongest advocate in the west, British prime minister, David Cameron, declared last night as he flew into Beijing pledging to lead a "dialogue of mutual respect and understanding".

As he began his second trip to China as Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron said he wanted to use the three-day visit to "take the British-Chinese diplomatic and political relationship to a new level".

He predicted "an enormous range" of potential trade deals and joint ventures in sectors as diverse as football, farming, computer software and the automotive industry.

Among the 120-strong delegation of business, education and cultural figures travelling with him was Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralph Speth and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, each hoping to increase their share of rapidly-growing markets in what is now the world's second largest economy.

As scheduled, Mr Cameron will travel to China's international financial hub Shanghai and the inland city of Chengdu in SW Sichuan province, a global centre for consumer electronics.