China, Britain eye closer infrastructure cooperation

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan on Tuesday held working talks with visiting British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, and the two sides eyed closer cooperation on infrastructure.

China hopes the British government can facilitate investment from Chinese companies, Wang said.

The two countries should play to their respective advantages in implementing some representative cooperative projects, so as to make an infrastructure cooperation model for bilateral economic and trade cooperation, he said.

Noting that the fifth China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue will convene in China in the second half of this year, Wang said the two sides are expected to give full play to the dialogue mechanism, in an effort to deepen trade, investment and financial cooperation.

As important G20 members, China and Britain should work together with other members to ensure the success of the next G20 summit, which is scheduled to be held in Los Cabos, Mexico, in June this year, he said.

Osborne said Britain is an open economy that sincerely welcomes investment from China and expects Chinese companies to tap into Britain's infrastructure sector.

Britain is willing to cement contacts and coordination with China on issues concerning bilateral economic ties and the global economy.

The two officials also exchanged views on issues of common concern, including the European economy.