Vice-premier meets with British PM

Visiting Vice-Premier Liu Yandong met with British Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday, the first full day of her official visit to the United Kingdom, which lasts until Thursday.

Liu said the successful 19th CPC National Congress has injected new impetus into future development of the Sino-UK relationship. And the Belt and Road Initiative provides new opportunities for cooperation between China and the United Kingdom, she said.

She said the two sides should fully implement the important consensus of the leaders of both countries, further enhance mutual trust, properly handle differences and push to new levels practical cooperation in various fields.

May extended congratulations for the successful conclusion of the 19th CPC National Congress, saying Britain attaches great importance to the vision and goals of China’s development blueprint and goals proposed by President Xi Jinping.

May said the UK is looking forward to maintaining highlevel contacts and dialogues with China, and further strengthening exchanges and cooperation in fields such as education, science, technology, innovation, culture and women’s issues.

The UK will remain open to Chinese investment, May said, and invites more Chinese tourists to visit the country.

The vice-premier came to Britain to co-chair the fifth annual UK-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue with Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s secretary of state for health. She is also expected to attend several events and meet with a number of senior British officials.

On Tuesday morning, Liu met with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh, Scotland. They discussed topics including education, trade and investment, energy and environmental protection, technology and innovation and cultural connections between China and Scotland.

Liu said the economic and cultural relations between the two countries have seen steady growth and China looks forward to deepen cooperation.

Sturgeon said China is an important export market for Scottish products such as food, drinks and financial services.

She also said the two countries have strong cultural links and Scotland continues to draw a significant number of tourists from China every year.

HAN YAN / XINHUA Vice-Premier Liu Yandong and British Prime Minister Theresa May meet at 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. Liu said the successful 19th CPC National Congress had injected new impetus into the Sino-UK relationship.