President Hu calls for better Sino-British ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-09 23:31

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao called for further enhancement of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Britain when addressing the British parliament on Wednesday morning.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L) stands with China's President Hu Jintao (C) and his wife Liu Yongqing at Horse Guards Parade in London November 8, 2005. [Reuters]

China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with Britain, said Hu at a reception hosted by the British parliament, adding that last year the two countries established the comprehensive strategic partnership and the mechanism of annual meeting of their leaders.

China and Britain have had close consultations and coordination in handling international affairs, and bilateral cooperation in trade, science and technology, education, culture and tourism has expanded continuously, said Hu.

Calling for furthur development of all-round cooperation, Hu also noted that exchanges and contacts between the parliaments of the two countries constitute an important part of the Sino-British comprehensive strategic partnership.

In his welcoming speech, Lord Falconer, speaker of the House of Lords, said that the relationship between Britain and China is an important one, both to the parliamentarians and people of Britain.

"Although I greet you today as Speaker of the House of Lords, I am also the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs," he said, "In that capacity, may I say how much my department, and the government as a whole, value the particularly close legal links which we have with China."

Michael Martin, speaker of the House of Commons, said the relationship between Britain and China is growing ever closer.

"In 1984 I visited your country as a member of the Trade and Industry Selected Committee...I knew then that China was experiencing rising economic growth and huge industrial change and I have watched that change from year to year since," he said.

The Chinese president is on a state visit to Britain, first leg of his four-nation tour which will also take him to Germany, Spain and South Korea.

He is also scheduled to attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Busan, South Korea on Nov.18-19.

Close