Chancellor George Osborne is to lead a business delegation to China in a charm offensive designed to open up new markets for British companies and pave the way to what the Treasury describes as "a new era in UK-China relations".

The week-long trip, beginning this weekend, comes ahead of next month's state visit to the UK by Chinese president Xi Jinping.

It signals that the Government remains determined to deepen Britain's ties with the world's second-largest economy, despite the slowdown in the east Asian giant's growth. A turbulent financial summer also saw shares on the Shanghai Stock Market slide 30% over three weeks in June and July and lose 8.5% of their value in a single day on "Black Monday" August 24.

Mr Osborne will tell senior Chinese ministers and business leaders that, rather than backing away from the country in response to the market instability, Britain intends to build increased co-operation and understanding with the aim of opening up billions of pounds worth of potential opportunities for trade.

Preparing for the visit, Mr Osborne held talks at Downing Street with Chinese vice premier Liu Yandong.

The Chancellor said: "I want us to forge closer economic and cultural links with China. Our partnership for growth, reform and innovation is helping to deliver record levels of investment and trade in both directions, but there is much more we can do.

"This trip is all about exploring new opportunities to open up new markets to benefit both economies."

As part of his effort to promote a "Northern Powerhouse", the Chancellor is taking a delegation of senior business and local government figures from the north of England with him, including Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Sheffield City Council Julie Dore and Trafford Council leader Sean Anstee.

He will also seek to forge stronger cultural links between the UK and China, announcing several major new projects. With him will be the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, the executive director of the National Theatre, Lisa Burger, and Sir Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Mr Osborne will cover thousands of miles on a busy schedule within China, taking in capital Beijing - where he will attend the official UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue - as well as financial centre Shanghai and inland commercial hub Chengdu, in Sichuan province.

He will be accompanied by Treasury minister Lord (Jim) O'Neill - the former Goldman Sachs chief economist who first coined the term BRICs recognising the global shift in economic power towards emerging giants Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Also taking part in the visit are Business Secretary Sajid Javid, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, Communities Secretary Greg Clark, small business minister Anna Soubry and City minister Harriett Baldwin.

The trip marks a continuing upswing in UK-China relations, which were briefly thrust into the deep-freeze by Beijing's displeasure at Prime Minister David Cameron's meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2012.

In a concerted effort to restore good relations, both Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne visited in 2013, when the PM urged China to invest in British infrastructure including nuclear power stations and high-speed rail.

Since then, London has become the leading centre outside Asia for offshore trading in China's renmimbi currency, while the UK earlier this year became a member of the Chinese-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Despite growth slowing to 7% in the first half of this year, China continues to represent around a quarter of the world's GDP growth. It is the sixth biggest market for exported British goods.

Mr Xi's trip to the UK will be the first state visit by a Chinese leader for 10 years, and will include a stay at Buckingham Palace as the guest of the Queen.