CRI听力:European Experts: Britain's Friendship with China Can be a Role Model

In recent days, "Golden era" or "Golden decade" has been frequently used to describe China and UK's intensifying partnership.

For Carl Dahlman, head of Thematic Division at OECD Development Center, the term siginifies something of a starting point for describing relations between the two sides.

"I'm sure it's a beginning. I think that there are big benefits for China and for the UK from this, and I think that they're setting very good foundations to build upon that. It's a tremendous opportunity which I think with more focused actions on both side, you can leverage this potential and turn it into very mutually beneficial elements that would help both countries very much. That's why it's a golden opportunity."

President Xi Jinping's stay in the UK is the first state visit to the country by a Chinese leader in a decade.

Russian political economist Sergei Karaganov says Britain's invitation for President Xi reflects the country's high expectations for China, particularly for Chinese investment.

"Britain holds high expectations for China and the Eurasian market. I think we could say that the UK is sailing with Chinese wind. Chinese leaders are intelligent for taking this chance and boosting the China's cooperation with Europe and Britain via the existing system and tools."

Back in 2004, China and Britain upgraded their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during former Premier Wen Jiabao's UK visit.

This was the first of its kind between China and an EU member state.

Phillipe Moreau Defarges, senior researcher at the French Institute of International Relations says that advancement in China-UK relations can serve as a role model for the rest of Europe.

"One of Britain's advantages is that it can be regarded as the most opened-up country among the European Union, whereas other EU members such as France, or even Germany, incline to stick to their own 'traditions'. From this point of view, Britain somehow has become a role model for other EU countries."

Earlier this year, Britain became the first western country seeking to join the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

It is also the main offshore RMB trading centre after Hong Kong.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.