British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in London Thursday, saying that Britain attaches great importance to its ties with China and is willing to increase Sino-British cooperation.
During the meeting at Downing Street, the two men agreed that recent years saw fruitful cooperation between China and Britain in various fields and that the two countries shared similar point of view on many international issues thanks to their sound discussions and cooperation.
Li Zhaoxing said China welcomes more investment from British firms and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Britain in service, monetary and banking sectors, noting that Britain has become the largest investor among European Union countries in China and the second largest trade partner from the EU.
He spoke highly of contributions made by Britain and Prescott himself to international cooperation in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable global development, adding that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Britain in implementing the Kyoto Protocol and promoting sustainable global development.
Sharing Li's view on bilateral relations, Prescott said frequent exchanges of visits at all-levels between the two countries have greatly pushed forward Sino-British relations.
Proscott said Britain is interested in playing an active part in China's economic development and wants to be involved in the infrastructure construction for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
He praised China for its achievements in environmental protection and promoting sustainable global development and for its role in implementing the Kyoto Protocol, pledging that Britain will enhance its cooperation with China in these fields.
Following the meeting, Li Zhaoxing had meetings respectively with Ben Chapman, chairman of the Britain-China Group of the British House of Commons, Charles Powell, president of the China-Britain Business Council, and Geffery Howe, former deputy prime minister and honorary chairman of Great Britain-China Center. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and hoped that the sound momentum will continue.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2003)
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