Li Keqiang meets British foreign secretary

Beijing - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond Wednesday, saying China's current economic transition provides opportunities for cooperation with Britain.

One key feature of the transition is a transit from overdependence on natural resources to more dependence on human resources and innovation, Li said.

"We encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation and put more emphasis on developing the emerging service industry on the basis of continuing lifting the traditional manufacturing industry, which will provide great opportunities for China-Britain cooperation," Li told Hammond.

China will continue to open up, ease market access and give equal treatment to Chinese and foreign enterprises, the premier vowed.

Speaking highly of the development of the China-Britain relationship, Li said President Xi Jinping had a successful visit to Britain last year.

China is willing to maintain a high-level exchange of visits with Britain, integrate the two countries' development strategies, enhance cooperation in areas including innovation, finance and nuclear energy, he said.

Li also called on both countries to step up coordination in international affairs and jointly safeguard regional stability and world peace.

Hammond conveyed Prime Minister David Cameron's new year's greetings to Li.

Hammond said Britain is excited to grasp the opportunities brought by China's economic transition, pushing forward cooperation in nuclear energy, finance, science and technology, innovation and medicine.

He said Cameron expects to visit China this year.

According to a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday after a meeting between Hammond and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, China is looking forward to Cameron attending the G20 summit in China's Hangzhou this autumn, and welcomes him to visit China at a mutually convenient time to hold a bilateral annual prime ministerial meeting.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Hammond Wednesday, the end of his two-day visit.