Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with British counterpart Philip Hammond in last year's meeting in the U.K. (Photo : www.fmprc.gov.cn)
China and Great Britain have vowed to cooperate further in the field of industry, finance and culture following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his British counterpart Philip Hammond in Beijing on Tuesday, Jan. 5, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
A press statement issued after the meeting said that the two ministers also pledged to work together on visa facilitation.
The statement said that China is anticipating the coming of British Prime Minister David Cameron to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou this autumn, and that the country welcomes his visit to China for the bilateral annual prime ministerial meeting at a mutually convenient time.
The statement added that the two countries should take advantage of the high-level dialogue to plan out partnerships in culture, finance and security.
During the meeting, Wang and Hammond agreed to integrate their development strategies, notably China's Belt and Road initiative and Britain's plan to upgrade its infrastructure, as well as their plans to revitalize manufacturing.
Wang said the country is prepared to cooperate more particularly in nuclear power, high-speed rail and under the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which will start operating in mid-January.
The two countries also promised to increase exchanges in culture, education, sports and healthcare.
During a joint press briefing held after their talks, the two foreign ministers also bared new plans to ease visa rules.
The two countries said they will both issue multiple-entry visas for up to two years to each other's citizens, as China expressed hope that Britain will increase the validity of visas to 10 years to Chinese citizens "at a proper time."
The two also pledged to keep closer communication within international organizations such as the United Nations.
Wang also expressed China's appreciation of Britain's effort to speed up negotiation on a China-EU investment agreement and to start feasibility research of a China-EU free trade area at the soonest time possible.
The Chinese foreign minister also expressed hope that Britain could help convince the EU to fulfill its obligations on determining the price comparability of subsidies and dumping, in relation to China's ascension to the World Trade Organization.
Hammond, on the other hand, said that Britain was eager to build up cooperation with China in infrastructure, nuclear power and finance, as he assured Wang that Britain will play an active role in the AIIB. He vowed to improve cooperation with China in international affairs.
Hammond is on a two-day official visit to China, which will last from Tuesday, Jan. 5, to Wednesday, Jan. 6.
