China attaches importance to relations with Britain and will
push for the development of bilateral ties, Jia Qinglin, chairman
of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said in Beijing on Tuesday.
At a meeting with visiting British Deputy Prime Minister John
Prescott, Jia said that the current Sino-British relations are
witnessing sound development.
President Hu Jintao and British Prime Minister Tony Blair
exchanged visits last year and the two countries launched a
strategic dialogue program.
"All of these have injected new vigor and content to the
all-round strategic partnership between China and Britain," he
said.
It is important for the two countries and it will also benefit
world peace and development to enhance the Sino-British all-round
strategic partnership in an era of globalization, Jia noted.
Jia said that the CPPCC will further liaise with British
departments and organizations, including the parliament, in a bid
to promote bilateral ties and friendship between the two
peoples.
Prescott said that Britain-China relations have seen sound
progress since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. There are also
great and positive changes occurring in China.
Britain will enhance cooperation with China in all sectors such
as economy and trade, science, culture and education and will make
contribution to world peace along with China as both members of the
Security Council of the UN, he noted.
Prescott is in Beijing for a week-long official visit. It is his
eighth visit to China.
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2006)
