China-UK Ties: UK PM wraps up three-day visit to China

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UK Prime Minister Theresa May has wrapped up her three-day visit to China. During her tour, intensifying the "Golden Era" of relations between China and UK was a significant consensus reached by the two sides. The two sides also pledged more cooperation in various areas and signed deals worth more than nine billion pounds.

The UK prime minister started her visit to China on Wednesday, with central China's city of Wuhan as the first leg. She visited Wuhan University, vowing there would be more bilateral cooperation in education.

Theresa May later arrived in Beijing on the same day, where she met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. They discussed a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade and investment. The two sides agreed to promote cooperation to a new level under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

They also witnessed the signing of agreements covering areas including trade, investment, and financial services. Premier Li said "economic globalization" was a consensus for both sides.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "Prime Minister May and I have co-chaired the new round of Prime ministers' meeting. The first thing we talked about is that we will work together to uphold free trade while advancing globalization. It's essential for the two sides to send out a strong message that China and the UK are making efforts in boosting economic globalization and fighting against protectionism. "

Theresa May said she is seeking a major economic partner for post-Brexit Britain.

Later on Thursday, she also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Xi called on both sides to push forward an enhanced version of the "Golden Era". He urged the two sides to consider and design the future development of bilateral ties from a strategic height and in a comprehensive way. For May's part, she said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has far-reaching global influence.

The UK prime minister wrapped up her Chinese visit in Shanghai, where she attended a China-UK Business Forum with entrepreneurs from the two countries. Theresa May summed up this China visit during an interview, in which she highlighted the "Golden Era" ties with China. She said it would be an important aspect for the UK after it quits the European Union.

Theresa May's visit came after trade cooperation between the two sides reached a new high last year. Statistics show that the bilateral trade volume reached more than 79 billion dollars, with an increase of 6.2 percent year on year.

The UK's investments in China amounted to 1.5 billion dollars, while China's non-financial investments in Britain reached 1.53 billion US dollars.