Prime Minister David Cameron leads the U.K.'s largest-ever business delegation to China on Monday, hoping to cash in on what has become a steady relationship between the two countries in recent years.

Mr. Cameron, who has made stronger commercial ties with China one of his government's priorities, is hoping the trip will result in a string of business deals that will help U.K. firms drive an export-led economic recovery.

Yet the U.K.'s calm relationship with China could bear a cost, dissuading London from publicly airing concerns about the Asian country's economic policies and human rights record. And trade ties are likely to remain limited as long as China continues to look to its export sector to propel growth, rather than boosting domestic demand.

Speaking ahead of the 36-hour trip