U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May intends to visit China "relatively soon" to shore up Britain's trading arrangements with China the world's second-largest economy, said UK officials. 
May's visit to Beijing will represent the second leg of an attempt to strengthen Britain's global trading links; later this week she will hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, the officials said in remarks to Financial Times. 
The British prime minister sees China as a major economic ally in the event of trade and economic matters with the United States do not go well, as the new U.S. president has repeatedly cast doubt on the feasibility of free global trade. 
Trump's presidency is expected to affect trade relations between the United States and China, which will provide an opportunity for London to revive ties with Beijing "I'm certainly going to be making a visit to China and we are looking at what timing would be appropriate. We're obviously looking at our trading relationship with China," May said in an interview with the Financial Times last week. 
China would value a reaffirmation of U.K. support following the sharp deterioration in U.S.-China ties that have followed Trump's election. 
China can potentially help the U.K. at a difficult time and the U.K. can also help China, said a Chinese official, who declined to be identified. 
Beijing is waiting to see what Trump's real policies will be, said the Chinese official adding that China's commitment to free trade will not change and the importance Beijing attaches to U.K. ties will remain high.