Beijing, June 12th—Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Chris Torrens, the newly-elected Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China. 

Lu congratulated Torrens on his assumption of the new post. He said, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone call and a meeting last year, charting the course for the improvement and development of bilateral relations. Both China and the UK support multilateralism and are committed to upholding a global trading system based on WTO rules. Recognizing the important influence of the British business community, Lu expressed the hope that the British Chamber of Commerce in China would continue to serve as a bridge to contribute to the steady and long-term development of China-UK relations. 

Torrens said, the British business community regards China as one of its most important trading partners. A recent survey by the British Chamber of Commerce in China shows that nearly 80 percent of British companies in China are willing to strengthen cooperation with China and increase investment in China. The British Chamber of Commerce in China is ready to play an active role and contribute to the UK-China relations and practical cooperation between the two countries.