Xi, May push to advance ties
President: Use strategic, overall vision as guide
China and Britain should enhance connection of development strategies and deepen cooperation in such areas as finance, nuclear power and investment, President Xi Jinping told visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday.
The two countries should design bilateral ties from a strategic and overall vision, continue to carry forward high-level dialogues in strategic, financial and cultural areas, and enhance exchanges between the legislatures, political parties and militaries of both sides, Xi said.
The president called on the two countries to boost mutual understanding, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and properly handle sensitive issues.
The two countries should explore cooperation in new industrial areas such as artificial intelligence, green energy, digital economy and shared economy, Xi said.
Xi stressed that China supports economic globalization and free trade.
Calling the Belt and Road Initiative an open, transparent, inclusive and mutually beneficial proposal, Xi said that China and Britain could have a higher level of coopera- tion under the Belt and Road framework.
Britain was the first Western power that acknowledged the People’s Republic of China, and the two countries have made great achievements in cooperation in all areas, Xi said.
Xi said he had met with May twice, at the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016 and G20 Hamburg Summit last year, adding that he had good discussions with her during the meetings.
This visit is expected to promote bilateral high-level exchanges, enhance practical cooperation, and inject impetus into the two nations’ ties, Xi said. May is making her first state visit to China since she took office in 2016 and will finish her three-day trip in Shanghai on Friday.
Xi said that the global situation is experiencing unprecedented and complex changes, and China and Britain, as major countries, shoulder special responsibility in dealing with common challenges such as climate change.
China would like to make joint efforts with the UK to push bilateral relations to develop in a healthy and steady way in the new era, thus bringing happiness to the people of both sides and peace to the world, Xi said.
May said that in 2015, the “golden era” of United Kingdom-China relations was established when Xi made a successful state visit to the UK.
“Since then, I think we have indeed achieved a great deal in enhancing the links between our two countries, both in terms of people links but also trading links,” May said.
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The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi has far-reaching influence all over the world, May said, adding that Britain would like to cooperate with China on jointly building the Belt and Road.
Britain supports free trade and would like to enhance practical cooperation with China in trade, investment, science and technology, environment, culture and the internet, she said.
May welcomed China’s investment in the UK, saying that the trade links between the two countries are growing.
“I have been pleased to bring a very large business delegation here who had a very successful visit,” she said. May has been accompanied by leaders of over 50 British business and commercial organizations.
Calling both countries significant players on the world stage, May said that there are global challenges faced by both and “there would be areas on which we can work together”.
May arrived in Beijing on Wednesday and took part in the China-Britain annual meeting between heads of government with Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.
China and Britain signed a dozen deals in areas including trade, finance, healthcare and smart city technology, pledging to further promote the “golden era” strategic partnership on Wednesday.