UK, China vow to enhance people-to-people, cultural exchanges

British Prime Minister Theresa May met on Tuesday with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, with both sides pledging to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance the social foundation of bilateral relations.

British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) meets with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong in London Dec. 5, 2017. Both sides pledged to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance the social foundation of bilateral relations. [Photo/Xinhua]

Liu is here to chair, jointly with British Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, the fifth annual UK-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue, which is the highest-level bilateral dialogue held in Britain this year.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Britain, Liu said, noting that the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and May in July during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany has helped cement the direction of the development of bilateral relations.

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October has injected strong impetus into China-Britain ties with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative offering significant opportunities for cooperation between the two sides, said Liu, who is on a four-day visit here.

The Chinese vice premier suggested that both sides enhance mutual political trust, deal with differences properly and push forward practical cooperation in various fields.

People-to-people exchanges between China and Britain have yielded substantial results since the mechanism was launched five years ago and high-level dialogues have played an important role in strengthening understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Liu noted.

China stands ready to work with Britain to continue to enrich the mechanism and boost people-to-people exchanges to enhance the social and civil foundation for the steady growth of China-Britain ties, said the Chinese vice premier.

During the meeting, May congratulated China on the success of the 19th CPC national congress, noting that Britain attaches great importance to the development goals and targets put forward by the Chinese president.

Britain is willing to maintain high-level exchanges and dialogues with China, continue to enhance cooperation in such fields as education, science and technology, innovation, culture and women's rights, for a stable growth of bilateral ties, said May.

Britain remains open to Chinese investment and welcomes more Chinese tourists and visitors, said May.

This year's China-Britain high-level dialogue is themed "Spirit of Youth."

The dialogue will cover 10 policy strands including health, education, culture and creative industries, science and innovation, tourism, sports, youth issues, regional cooperation, women's rights and social equity.