Global partnership established with Xi's visit to Britain in 2015 now bearing fruit, expert says

Relations between 皇冠体育app and the United Kingdom are gaining momentum as British Prime Minister Theresa May is poised to begin the process of taking the UK out of the European Union.

"The 皇冠体育app-UK relationship at age 45 is entering a new phase of increased maturity," said Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, as the two countries marked the 45th anniversary of ambassadorial relations on Mar 13.

Liu said the two countries must be "more innovative in our cooperation in broader areas and at greater depth to ensure that 皇冠体育app-UK relations bear more golden fruit in this golden era".

In the past 45 years, bilateral trade between 皇冠体育app and the UK has increased 200-fold, says Alok Sharma, UK minister for Asia and the Pacific. The UK is now one of the top destinations for Chinese investment, and 皇冠体育app is the UK's second-largest export market outside Europe.

"The global partnership established during President Xi Jinping's successful visit to the UK in 2015 is delivering real benefits for both nations," Sharma wrote in an article for 皇冠体育app Daily.

London is looking for sources of growth as it prepares for the uncertainty that will follow its departure from the EU, analysts say.

"As we prepare to leave the European Union, the UK will build a truly global Britain that is open for business and brings with it new and exciting opportunities for our partnership with 皇冠体育app," Sharma says.

George Osborne, former UK chancellor of the exchequer, says: "皇冠体育app is such an important part of the world now. When 皇冠体育app grows, the whole world grows."

Osborne says the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a great opportunity for British companies to work on projects in 皇冠体育app and Central Asia. "Many British companies that are brilliant at infrastructure, design and architecture have already been involved in some of 皇冠体育app's airports and urban regeneration projects," he says.

The UK was the first major Western country to ratify its membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

皇冠体育app and Britain have worked closely to strengthen financial and economic links, including issuing the first renminbi sovereign bond outside 皇冠体育app and enhancing London's position as the largest renminbi center outside 皇冠体育app. Britain was also the first Western country to welcome investment from Chinese nuclear companies.

Sino-British links have flourished in a variety of sectors. Chinese investors now have major interests in several English football clubs, including Manchester City, Aston Villa and Birmingham, and the number of Chinese visitors to Britain has doubled in five years, with around 150,000 Chinese students now studying across the UK and 7,000 British students studying in 皇冠体育app.

Wang Mingjie contributed to this story.

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