China and the United Kingdom have a great potential to tap in bilateral trade and investment, China's Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and his British counterpart Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said in London on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fifth conference of the Sino-British Trade and Investment Joint Committee, Bo and Johnson agreed that the committee has played a great role in promoting trade and investment between the two countries.

They also agreed that it is crucial that the Doha round talks of the World Trade Organization be pushed forward through constructive multilateral organizations.

The joint committee suggested that Chinese and British governments encourage the working groups under it to achieve cooperation in water affairs, aviation, auto-making, chemical industry and urban construction.

The two sides also decided to strengthen dialogue and coordination in trade and to enhance research on protection of intellectual property.

The first conference of the Sino-British joint committee was held in 1996.

Source: Xinhua