Lord Mayor of London voices support for Belt and Road Initiative
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail People's Daily, March 1, 2017
The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s contribution to the world, and it can benefit countries including the U.K., according to Andrew Parmley, the Lord Mayor of London.
“The Belt and Road Initiative contains many opportunities. It is an exciting project for both China and the U.K., as well as for many countries along the route. London is a crucial node for the initiative’s implementation in the western world, and many countries will obtain benefits from it,” Parmley was quoted as saying by Thepaper.cn.
During his 10-day trip to China, which ended on Feb. 26, Parmley paid visits to Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, meeting with each city's mayor. Parmley said he saw great potential in the development of Sino-U.K. relations, adding that London is willing to support the Belt and Road Initiative in the fields of finance, law and services, as well as helping to promote it, the 21st Century Business Herald reported.
Traditionally, the Lord Mayor of London visits China in September. Parmley’s February visit has been interpreted by many Chinese media outlets as a sign that U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May could potentially participate in a major summit on the Belt and Road Initiative in May.
“Generally speaking, the U.K. is one of the western countries most open to Chinese investment. The U.K.’s attitude toward the Belt and Road Initiative depends on how much benefit it can obtain from the project. Currently, there are unfriendly voices discouraging Chinese investment in the U.K., which may pose a threat to the two countries’ future trade,” Chen Qi, an expert from Shanghai International Studies University, told Thepaper.cn.
