Foreign and Military Affairs

China, UK pledge pragmatic economic cooperation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-10 22:54

BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and British Prime Minister David Cameron met Wednesday and vowed to boost "pragmatic" economic cooperation.

China and the UK, as strategic partners and major economies, are economically complementary and enjoy good prospects for cooperation in trade and investment, Li said during his meeting with the British leader.

During Cameron's two-day official visit to China, he had separate talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

The visit to China was Cameron's first since he took office in May. He was accompanied by a group of high-ranking UK officials and 50 business leaders.

Strong bilateral economic ties are not only good for the two countries and their peoples, but also helps ensure world peace, stability and prosperity, Li said.

Cameron and Li attended a China-UK Business Summit in Beijing where 13 cooperation documents were signed by representatives of Chinese and UK firms and research institutions.

The documents covered areas such as green energy and low-carbon technologies and environmental protection.

Li said the two countries should boost cooperation in technology transfer, especially in high-technology transfers.

China supports Chinese enterprises investing in Britain, he added.

The vice premier also called on British companies to boost their businesses in the central and western regions of China.

Li said China opposes protectionism and he pledged to join hands with the UK to advance the reform of the international monetary regime and global economic governance structures, in a bid to ensure the world economy grows in a sustainable and balanced way.

Cameron said he was impressed with China's rapid and sustained growth.

He added the UK hopes to step up cooperation with China.

Britain will stick to its policy of free trade, he said, adding that the UK government will advance cooperation with the China in the fields of infrastructure, high technology and in the financial sector to enhance the bilateral relationship.