On his visit to the Far East last week, prime minister Gordon Brown predicted that increased UK trade with China could create tens of thousands of jobs in this country.
Brown and the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao agreed to increase trade between the two countries by 50% by 2010.
Coveniently forgetting China's poor record on human rights, Brown also said he wanted 100 new Chinese companies to invest in the UK by 2010.
There is no doubting China's economic potential - as Sir Digby often used to say "China wants your lunch, India wants your dinner". But one business development guru claims that businesses are knocking on the wrong door if they think China is the long-term golden goose.
Alan Biggar, head of consultancy All About Brands, said China would only be a short-term source of cash, buying up the services it needs and then slamming the door shut to Western companies.
He even goes as far to say that it's a "myth" that China is an economic powerhouse. "It simply has a very big shopping trolley at the moment. There is no tradition or culture of foreign trade, or looking outside its own borders.
"My contacts in the big banks," he boasts, "are beginning to say that beyond Beijing there is nothing."
India is where it is at, according to Biggar. India thinks 'trade', he says. The country appreciates Western standards and requirements, and already has well-established links with Europe and North America. India is the world's 'golden egg', he proclaims.
Biggar then goes a bit misty eyed, saying a seven-year-old Indian boy has better life chances than his Chinese contemporary. This may be true, but his eulogy of all things Indian does raises suspicion slightly. Could it be that Biggar has interests in the sub-continent - financial or otherwise?
Whatever the case, it would surely be foolish to dismiss China out-of-hand and put all your eggs - golden or not - into one basket.
The CIPD recently rejected the chance to work with the Chinese government in developing human resources qualifications. In the light of Biggar's views, maybe it should turn its attention to India in the near future.
