China will build more platforms and bridges for Chinese and British businesses, said Chinese ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang at the China-Northern England Cooperation Forum held in the city of Leeds in northern England on Monday.

Under the theme of "Partnership for a Prosperous Future", about 50 representatives from the Chinese and British business communities attended.

The ambassador Zheng Zeguang said the Northern England region has advantages in many industries of manufacturing, financial services, culture and creative, legal service and education, and it has a lot of potentials to grow. 

This forum aimed to build a platform for Chinese and British entrepreneurs to talk face-to-face about business development and explore more opportunities for cooperation.

During the speech, he pointed out that China's economy showed a recovery trend in the first half of this year. The GDP grew 5.5 percent year-on-year, which was significantly faster than other major economies in the world. 

He added that the fundamentals of China's long-term sound economic growth had not changed, and would inject positive energy into the global economic recovery.

The ambassador noted the two countries should uphold mutually beneficial cooperation and build sustainable trade relation. He called on the British government to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the UK.

"We hope both governments will create favorable environment for business of our two countries to thrive in each other's market. China has been striving to build an open, fair and law-based business environment. We hope the UK government will do the same. You should not be discriminatory."

Zheng said he has always been attentive to complaints made to him by British companies and would continue to do whatever he can to facilitate.

The ambassador expected to build more platforms and bridges for business community between the two countries. And he also hoped the businesses in West Yorkshire and northern England will take a closer look at the potentials in China.

Entrepreneurs participating in the forum expressed their optimism about the prospects of economic and trade relations between the two countries and looked forward to deepening practical cooperation.

Chris Black, Managing Director of Sound Leisure - a British jukebox manufacturing company based in Yorkshire - said his company has shipped over £500,000 ($643,000) worth of products to China in the last four years, and China will become its largest market within the next 12 months.

China's economy has strong momentum and has great advantage in manufacturing, said Liu Tao, the general manager of Midea Home Appliances UK, adding his company could provide British consumers with energy-saving, noise-reducing and cost-effective home appliances, and he had full confidence in the British market.

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