A stable relationship between China and the United Kingdom is conducive to safeguarding free and fair trade and promoting a world economic recovery, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday. 

Li made the remarks as he addressed a virtual dialogue with representatives of the British business sector in Beijing on the afternoon of July 6.

China treats all kinds of market entities, foreign companies included, on an equal footing, said the Chinese premier, adding that he hopes the UK will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises that invest in the UK.

Noting that there exist many uncertain and unstable factors in the current global situation, Li said he hopes China and the UK, which are both important forces in maintaining global peace, will promote common development and safeguard the multilateral trading system.

China would like to, with the UK, consolidate mutual trust and respect, seek common ground while reserving differences, deepen win-win cooperation and accumulate consensus and resolve differences through dialogue to obtain a healthy and stable development of China-UK relations, he said.

Mankind makes up a community of shared future, said Li, calling on the international community to strengthen cooperation in order to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

China and the UK were among the first countries to develop and produce vaccines, he noted, adding that China would like to increase communication and share research outcomes with all sides, especially on virus variants, to promote global victory against the pandemic.

The Chinese premier reiterated that China will unswervingly push forward the basic State policy of reform and opening-up.

The country will open its door wider to the outside world as it fully opened its manufacturing sector, and is orderly advancing openness of the service sector, he pledged.

Li also encouraged all sectors of society of the two sides to strengthen communication, boost mutual understanding and provide positive factors for China-UK relations.