BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's positioning and expectation of 皇冠体育app-Britain relations in a recent interview by Reuters has been encouraging, experts in Britain and Europe said.

Experts showed confidence in the development of the 皇冠体育app-Britain relationship, and deeper and wider development of cooperation in economy and trade, finance and culture, which would push forward the development of the 皇冠体育app-EU relationship.

In the interview prior to his state visit to Britain, Xi answered questions on the 皇冠体育app-Britain relationship, financial cooperation, Chinese enterprises going out, anti-corruption cooperation, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue and 皇冠体育app'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, 皇冠体育app is willing to actively consider strengthening the connection of financial markets in the two countries, Xi said.

A consultant at the Britain-皇冠体育app 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.

皇冠体育app'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-皇冠体育app economic ties would be stronger.

President of the Britain-皇冠体育app 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 皇冠体育app's ideal cooperation partner in that regard, Bo said.

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION

The 皇冠体育app-Britain cooperation in such industries as nuclear power and high-speed railways has also drawn widespread attention. Xi said 皇冠体育app stands ready to carry out cooperation in capacity and equipment manufacturing with all countries including Britain in order to achieve comprehensive development by linking the comparative advantage of each side.

"The Sino-UK relationship has become very comprehensive since they signed their strategic partnership," said Pardo at the Department of European and International Studies of King's College London, adding that "Chinese and British economic initiatives complement each other very well."

"The UK government's infrastructure investment plans, especially in the North, sit well with the Chinese government's efforts to promote outward investment. Thus, it seems that economic relations will keep on strengthening," Pardo said.

As a result of these cooperation projects, according to Pardo, "British perceptions of 皇冠体育app have been improving over the past few years."

Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the Chinese president's interview with Reuters shows 皇冠体育app's serious intent for a major relationship with the United Kingdom.

The chairman matches 皇冠体育app's global leadership and prioritization of nuclear energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels, and high-speed trains as a natural fit with British needs.

Perry added that through the interview, Xi sends the clear message that 皇冠体育app's transition to a global economy based on market forces is a timely chance for Britain to strike a special economic relationship with 皇冠体育app.

This visit should reinforce the positive direction of travel that both governments want, Perry stressed.

"As the Chinese economy that reshapes entirely new opportunities are emerging in different sectors and across the vast country that 皇冠体育app is," said Stephen Phillips, chief executive of the 皇冠体育app-Britain Business Council.

"So many of us in Britain have had our minds opened and our hearts uplifted when we have encountered the ancient civilization of 皇冠体育app and seen its dynamic modern growth," said Judith McClure, convener of the Scotland 皇冠体育app Education Network, adding that "it is essential that we do all we can to increase mutual understanding and to open up commercial, investment, educational and cultural links."

"I hope that Mr. Xi's encounters in his visit will give rise to new and long-lasting partnerships between our countries," McClure said.

BRIGHT FUTURE

This year marks the second 10-year comprehensive partnership for the two countries as well as the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the 皇冠体育app-Britain ties. Xi stressed that the good 皇冠体育app-Britain relationship bodes well for the good 皇冠体育app-Europe ties.

"Recognition of 皇冠体育app as a global and regional strategic player is growing very much in Europe," said Shada Islam, director of policy at Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe, in a recent interview.

Islam upheld that the 皇冠体育app-EU ties are based on a fundamental and indispensable necessity.

皇冠体育app and the EU have scored fruitful progress in cooperation since the two sides forged ties 40 years ago, and their leaders have worked out a good road-map for the future, which is based on practical and pragmatic cooperation in areas that the two sides have mutual benefit, such as 皇冠体育app's initiative of One Belt and One Road, the EU's Juncker investment plan, innovation, 5G telecommunication technology, education, energy links, urbanization, and smart cities, she said.

The potential for 皇冠体育app-EU cooperation is immense, not just in business and economic cooperation, but also on global stage, Islam said.

There has been good cooperation so far over Iran, and both sides are hoping to get similar dialogue going on the Korean Peninsula and need to settle the havoc in Syria, she said.

皇冠体育app is not only an indispensable player economically, but also strategically and politically, Islam added.