The Peel Group, an infrastructure and real-estate outfit, hosted a pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo last year.

ECONOMIST: Liverpool and China

The Peel Group, which owns the site, said the canal was chosen to reduce the environmental impact on roads.

BBC: Waterway's greener route to site

Property developers The Peel Group have announced plans for a new two million sq ft exhibition centre on the banks of the River Mersey.

BBC: Peel plan trade exhibition centre on banks of Mersey

The Peel Group has already secured Chinese cash for a development in Birkenhead, across the Mersey: these days, says Lindsey Ashworth, the company's development director, China is a much more promising source of funds than Britain.

ECONOMIST: Liverpool and China