Vice premier emphasizes co-op with North Ireland

Vice Premier Liu Yandong said Thursday that China is ready to expand cooperation with North Ireland.

Liu met with North Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in Beijing on Thursday morning.

Liu said he hopes both sides will enhance mutual understanding on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, adding that China is ready to expand trade, economic, cultural, education and people-to-people cooperation with North Ireland.

"China encourages its local governments to expand cooperative relations with local governments in the United Kingdom," Liu said.

Liu said she appreciates the importance that North Ireland has placed on both developing relations with China and actively boosting cooperation with China.