President Xi Jinping and Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron shake hands at the end of a joint press conference in No 10 Downing Street, in central London,  Oct 21, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Since his arrival in Britain, Xi has in many speeches reviewed friendly exchanges between the two countries in history and modern days.

He cited how 24 Chinese naval cadets took part in the Normandy landings during World War II and received personal thanks from Winston Churchill for their gallantry, and how China helped save a British military medic earlier this year who contracted Ebola virus while volunteering in Sierra Leone.

On Thursday, Xi also met a group of British friends including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, an independent British business network committed to promoting links with China.

The president thanked for their painstaking efforts to make China-Britain relations remain unshakable and become firmer, saying he hoped that they would continue to support the development of bilateral relations.

Perry told Xinhua after the meeting that he had the feeling that Chinese and British enjoyed being together.

"It was much more than just business," he said. "My wish that Britain develops a special relationship with China has been launched in a very real way."

Later in the day, Xi will also dine and hold talks with Cameron at the latter's country retreat, Chequers.

The two leaders were expected to exchange views on issues of great concerns in the private talks.

"The effect of Britain-China relations is to enable the two to discuss any world affairs as friends and not trying to push views on the others," Perry said. "This enables them to work together to find solutions."

Full text: China-UK Joint Declaration on Building a Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century