Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses dignitaries during a visit to the airport city in Manchester, Britain, Oct. 23, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
MANCHESTER, Britain, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping left Britain Friday, concluding his five-day state visit to the European nation, the first in a decade by a Chinese head of state.
Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan stayed at Buckingham Palace in London as the guests of Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted a grand ceremonial welcome for the couple, gave a private lunch and a formal state banquet with the attendance of senior members of the royal family.
During the visit, the two countries lifted their ties to "a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century" and agreed that "this visit opens a golden era in China-UK relations featuring enduring, inclusive and win-win cooperation."
The trip also took Xi to the old industrial city of Manchester in northern England.
The president visited the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester, before he joined British Prime Minister David Cameron at Manchester City's football academy.
Hailing Britain as a football power and the headstream of modern football, Xi said China should learn from Britain in many aspects.
"Sports exchange is an important part of people-to-people exchanges. I hope the two sides could strengthen their cooperation in sports, including football, to improve people's health and China-Britain friendship," said the president.
While addressing a welcome lunch held by the government of Manchester, Xi said he hoped the city where the Industrial Revolution began could take a leading role in promoting China-Britain cooperation.
For his part, Cameron reaffirmed Britain's resolve to become China's best friend in the West.
Xi also visited Manchester's airport city and announced plans for direct flights between Manchester and Beijing.
Related:
China, Britain set sail for "golden" future after Xi's milestone visit
MANCHESTER, Britain, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The key word for the honeyed China-Britain relationship now is "golden" -- be it a(n) "age, decade, era, period, time or year."
Leaders, officials and media from the two countries have lavishly used this adjective to laud their close ties over the past five days when Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to this Western power, the first in a decade by a Chinese head of state. Full story
Feature: Chequers witnesses closer bond between Xi, Cameron
LONDON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- After a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and a welcome dinner at London's Guildhall, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday evening tried something less formal at a pub near British Prime Minister David Cameron's residence of Chequers.
With fish and chips and two pints of Greene King IPA, Cameron treated Xi to a very British night at the Plough at Cadsden, a 16th-century country inn located in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire.Full story
Spotlight: Chinese tourists generate new source of growth for Britain
LONDON, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- An increasing number of Chinese tourists have traveled to Britain over the past few years thanks to deepened bilateral ties, making significant contributions to the British economy.
The European country is expected to attract more Chinese visitors as President Xi Jinping's ongoing five-day state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state in a decade, has ushered in a "golden time" in China-Britain relations with common efforts.Full story
China-Britain "global" partnership sealed with declaration, personal bonds
LONDON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain issued Thursday a joint declaration on building a "global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century," and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping is adding personal chemistry to cement the ties.
The declaration specified the bilateral relations with pledges of joint efforts in fields ranging from the internationalization of China's currency RMB and China-European Union (EU) free trade to cyber security and climate change.Full story
