Chinese President Xi Jinping's positioning and expectation of China-Britain relations in a recent interview by Reuters has been encouraging, experts in Britain and Europe said.[Special coverage]
Experts showed confidence in the development of the China-Britain relationship, and deeper and wider development of cooperation in economy and trade, finance and culture, which would push forward the development of the China-EU relationship.
In the interview prior to his state visit to Britain, Xi answered questions on the China-Britain relationship, financial cooperation, Chinese enterprises going out, anti-corruption cooperation, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the South China Sea issue and China's economic situation.
EXPANDING TRADE AND INVESTMENT, DEEPENING FINANCIAL COOPERATION
Enhancing financial cooperation with London would definitely be a mutually beneficial option, Xi said, noting that such cooperation between the two countries started early, developed fast and has great potential.
As long as conditions allow, China is willing to actively consider strengthening the connection of financial markets in the two countries, Xi said.
A consultant at the Britain-China Trade Association, Peng Andong, said he hopes Xi's visit in Britain will further promote the two countries' cooperation in the fields of finance, economy and trade.
Peng pointed out that London has become a real stage for internationalization of the RMB, with about two thirds of the RMB settlement in areas outside the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong done in London.
Ramon Pardo, senior lecturer at King's College London and co-director of the London Asia Pacific Center for Social Science, said the British and Chinese economic activities are highly complementary.
China's plan of the RMB internationalization highly fits Britain's policy to build London as a world financial center, and offers support to it, he said, nothing that the future Britain-China economic ties would be stronger.
President of the Britain-China Trade Association Bo Zhongsen said the British business community is very much looking forward to Xi's visit, and British and Chinese enterprises will see broader cooperation opportunities in the near future.
The Belt and Road Initiative could reshape global trade and investment in the coming years, and Britain will be China's ideal cooperation partner in that regard, Bo said.
