Li Peng Meets Representatives of China-UK Forum Second MeetingLi Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met Tuesday afternoon with representatives of the second meeting of the China-UK Forum.Li Peng extended congratulations on the success of the meeting, which ended in Beijing earlier today, and said that Sino-British relations have been good in recent years, with frequent high-level exchange of visits, and developments in economic and trade relations. He added that Sino-British cooperation in scientific, educational, cultural and environmental protection has been increasing. China and Britain, as two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have important roles to play in international affairs, Li said, adding that the two countries should become cooperative partners from an economic perspective and should safeguard world peace and development. China is willing to work with Britain to push forward their relations in the 21st century, he said. He said that China's economy will continue to maintain good momentum in the next ten years, and China will focus on economic development by restructuring the economy and developing high-tech, so as to improve living standards. He added that to fully develop China's western regions is a long-term plan, and it will take several generations to achieve the goal. In the course of developing the west, China will do more to reinforce infrastructure and improve the investment environment, and take advantage of local natural resources, in order to promote economic development. A series of measures will be taken, including making efforts to improve education in western regions, to narrow the gap between eastern and western parts of the country and to achieve common prosperity, he said. Former British Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine, one of the co-chairmen of the meeting, said that Britain places great importance on developing relations with China, and the British representatives will continue their efforts to promote bilateral relations. Vice-chairman Song Jian of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), one of the co-chairmen of the meeting, also attended the meeting. The two-day gathering focused on culture, education, the environment, technology, finance, law and the press. |
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