China, UK to enrich 'golden era' of ties

Two sides to promote London as center for the offshore use of the renminbi

China is ready to work with Britain to provide new impetus to the development of "Golden Era" of Sino-British relations, said Vice-Premier Ma Kai on Saturday.

Ma made the remarks when co-chairing the ninth China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond in Beijing.

Seventy-two policy outcomes were reached after the two sides held fruitful discussions on macro-economy, trade and investment, industrial strategies, financial reforms and development, as well as cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road construction.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Britain, which ushers in new opportunities for deepening China-Britain pragmatic cooperation, said Ma.

This dialogue is the first China-UK EFD held after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which shoulders the important task of fulfilling the consensus reached by both leaders and expanding economic and financial cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Ma suggested both sides seize the strategic opportunity and continuously deepen cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, trade and investment.

He expressed the hope that the two countries could expand industrial and innovative cooperation, promote the alignment of "Made in China 2025" strategy and UK's industrial strategy, and strengthen cooperation within the framework of Belt and Road construction.

The vice-premier also called on both sides to steadily push forward cooperation in financial service and RMB internalization, beef up coordination in international affairs and jointly promote the recovery of world economy.

Hammond said the 19th CPC National Congress has set a grand plan for the future development of China.

He said Britain supports the Belt and Road Initiative and hopes to work with China to deepen all-round pragmatic cooperation, so as to boost the development of "Golden Era" of Britain-China relations.

Britain and China should seize golden opportunities to forge a closer global partnership in the post-Brexit era, British Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark said.

The official, who was in Beijing for the ninth round of China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, said that that the two countries could further enhance their cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, clean energy, and others to jointly face global challenges.

Being optimistic about the ongoing Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union, Clark said there was "great will" on both sides to have a strong and special relationship. Meanwhile, Britain is willing to renew its enthusiasm for international relationships, especially with China.

"In the world after Brexit, Britain will continue to be a place that trades wholeheartedly with the rest of the European Union. For a lot of Chinese companies and investors being based in Britain, it is still a good place to be part of the European system," he said.

Xinhua