One senior Chinese official said in BeijingThursday that the relations between China and Britain are now at the best stage of development.

While meeting with visiting British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said China and Britain are cultivating a strategic partnership and further enhancing their bilateral trade and economic ties.

Britain is China's largest investor from the European Union andone of the most important trade partners in Europe, Jia acknowledged.

Although different in ideology and development mode, both countries share common grounds on strengthening bilateral relations, actively taking part in international affairs and safeguarding world stability.

Jia praised Britain for its position on the one-China policy. Jia also briefed Hoon on the latest economic and social development in China.

Hoon said China had made remarkable achievements in the past two decades while the two countries kept a good momentum on developing bilateral relations.

Exchange between the two militaries might push forward the bilateral relations in an overall way, he added.

He also reiterated that his government will adhere to the one-China policy.

Source: Xinhua