Reform, innovation seen as cornerstone of stronger ties

President Xi wears 3D glasses to view robotic equipment in the Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Reform and innovation provide China and the United Kingdom with rich opportunities to work together, the head of a leading Chinese think tank said in London on Friday.

Li Wei, president of the Development Research Center of the State Council, a central government think tank, said such cooperation could make a huge contribution to global sustainable development.

"China is the largest developing country, while the UK is the first industrialized developed country," he said while highlighting areas of potential cooperation.

"Learning from each other's successful experience, cooperation on macroeconomic regulation and control, using government and social funds, modern financial industries, transportation facilities and creating information products and new energy equipment, will certainly facilitate the progress of the two countries," Li said.

He delivered the keynote speech at the China-UK Reform and Innovation Forum during President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK, jointly convened by two leading think tanks, the DRC and Chatham House of Britain.

"To support innovation, China has issued a series of policies and measures to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights and to stimulate the vitality of the whole society," Li said.