Chinese sources say that the deals include the reopening of British poultry exports to China and increased UK pork exports.

The deals will be announced following talks in London today, 27 June, between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who is in the middle of a European tour taking in Hungary, Britain and Germany.

Deals worth more than UK 31 billion are set to be announced after the talks between Mr Cameron and Mr Wen.

It gave no details but a government source said agreements could be reached in the energy, retail and design sectors.

The two sides are expected to announce the reopening of the Chinese market for British poultry exports, potentially worth 310 million a year, British officials said. China banned poultry products from Britain following an outbreak of bird flu at a farm in eastern England in 2007.

Britain and China will also announce an expansion of trade in pork products, following agreements last November to export British breeding pigs and British pig meat to China.

A further deal to supply 800 breeding pigs will be signed. Five more British farms will be approved to export pig meat to China in a deal worth more than 325 million pounds, Britain said.

Premier Wen's visit is the latest of several recent high-level diplomatic exchanges between Britain and China, including a visit to China by Mr Cameron last November.

Britain wants to double trade with China by 2015 to some US$100 billion, in line with the British government's strategy of expanding business with fast-growing emerging markets to help offset subdued domestic demand at a time of sharp spending cuts.