He may have flown halfway around the world but David Cameron found himself in familiar surroundings when he arrived in China on Tuesday - a Tesco supermarket.

Premier Wen Jiabao accompanies British Prime Minister David Cameron as they review a guard of honor at a welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. [Wu Zhiyi/China Daily]

The chain's trademark red-and-blue sign is ubiquitous in Cameron's home country, although the British prime minister will no doubt have noticed a few subtle differences with the store he visited after landing at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Instead of the usual bread and biscuits in the United Kingdom, the store in Beijing's eastern Happy Valley area is stocked with foods popular with Chinese customers, meaning more fresh fish and noodles.

This ability to adapt to a very different market has proved a real strength for Tesco, whose executive director, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, is part of the largest-ever British delegation to China.

The company has become an increasingly common sight in cities on the Chinese mainland since opening its first store in 2004. Today, it boasts 99 outlets and is planning a 2-billion-pound ($3.2 billion) investment over the next five years, according to media reports.