British pub visited by Xi Jinping bought by Chinese

In this Oct. 22, 2015 file photo, Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron (right) drinks a pint of beer with Chinese President Xi Jinping at The Plough pub

A Chinese firm is buying the landmark British pub where former Prime Minister David Cameron shared a pint with China’s leader last year.

The Christie & Co. real estate firm said on Tuesday that it had brokered the sale of The Plough pub in Cadsden 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of London to the Chinese SinoFortone investment firm. According to British newspaper, The Telegraph, the pub was reportedly sold for around 2 million pounds (about MOP20.15 million)

Director Neil Morgan said the commercial real estate company was pleased to complete the sale of the pub, which is located near Chequers, the country home made available to British prime ministers.

He said the pub had become a tourist attraction for Chinese travelers since the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in October, 2015.

Moreover, the establishment has become so famous that it now serves as a template for a chain of British pubs opening on the mainland. SinoFortone director Peter Zhang said the English pub concept is growing quickly in China.

Other SinoFortone investments in Britian include a proposed theme park called London Paramount Entertainment Resort and a stake in national rail infrastructure, known as “Crossrail 2”, connecting the British capital to nearby towns and cities. MDT/AP