London to be ＂natural partner＂ in Belt and Road Initiative

SHENZHEN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- London will be a natural and strong partner of China for the Belt and Road Initiative, a senior official from the City of London Corporation said Tuesday.

"I think it is fantastic for China, as a great historic trading nation, to come up with the concept," said Catherine McGuinness, deputy policy chairperson of the City of London Corporation, one of the most powerful financial institutions in Europe.

In an interview with Xinhua, McGuinness, who was on a working visit to Shenzhen Tuesday, hailed the Belt and Road Initiative as a "tremendously exciting and ambitious initiative" that involves not only China but also many other countries along the routes.

"I think we see ourselves as the western end of the new Silk Road," she told Xinhua.

She added that the City of London would be a strong partner for the Belt and Road Initiative by sharing its knowledge and experience in infrastructure financing.

China will host the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing next month. according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, 28 heads of state and government will attend the forum.

McGuinness said the forum will be a "great and exciting opportunity" to advance the Belt and Road Initiative and clarify what the initiative will involve in terms of international cooperation.

Both the British government and the City of London will send representatives to the conference, she said.

"The fact that so many state leaders are coming to that conference indicates the depth of interest," she noted. "We look forward to being a partner and helping to ensure that London collaborates with you on that."