国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier meets British PM on bilateral ties

LONDON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday afternoon to discuss bilateral ties.

The meeting was held at No. 10 Downing Street, official residence and office of the prime minister, and lasted about one hour.

The development of Sino-British relations has kept a good momentum since Britain's coalition government took office. The new British government has continued to pursue a positive China policy, and bilateral relations have achieved a smooth transition and sustainable development.

China and Britain have maintained close high-level contacts and deepened their strategic mutual trust.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London, Britain, Jan. 10, 2011.

In November 2010, Prime Minister Cameron led the largest-ever British delegation to China, and leaders of both countries reached important consensus on further enhancing mutual political trust and promoting cooperation in various fields.

Economic and trade cooperation between Britain and China has been booming. Bilateral trade reached 40.2 billion U.S. dollars between January and October last year, an increase of 30 percent over the same period of 2009 and also a record high for the same period.

Li, who arrived here on Monday, met with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg earlier in the afternoon. He is also expected to meet with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Britain is the last leg of Li's three-nation European tour, which has already taken him to Spain and Germany.