Sino-British trade body launched in London

A new trade organization, the UK Chinese Business Association (UKCBA), was formally launched in London on Thursday, pledging to work for development of economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Zhang Jinglong, the founding president of the UKCBA, described the organization as a platform for "promoting and facilitating business cooperation amongst UK overseas Chinese."

The association would become a "home from home" for Chinese firms and small and medium enterprises in Britain as well.

Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to Britain and Hugh Davies CMG, Chairman of the China Association in Britain, respectively expressed their congratulations to the launch of the association at the inaugural dinner.

"UKCBA offers a new platform for better cooperation among Chinese businesses in Britain; it creates new conditions for heightening the status of Chinese people in the British society; and it adds a new force promoting China-UK economic cooperation," said Liu.