LONDON - China's carmaker MG Motor and Birmingham Airport signed a formal corporate partnership agreement on Tuesday, highlighting their long term commitment to the development of trade between the Britain's second largest city and China.

At the launch event held at Birmingham Airport, both sides highlighted the need for a direct air link to China, and showcased several new MG6 cars on the airfield as well as unveiling an MG Motor UK branded air bridge.

William Wang, head of MG Motor UK, said, " As the proud owners of the world famous MG brand, SAIC Motor has made significant investment to make Birmingham the global home of the brand, SAIC group's European engineering centre of excellence and most recently a manufacturing and sales centre for our new MG6 vehicles."

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, said, "As we embark on our runway extension project next year, we're keen to hear from, and work with, businesses that would benefit from a direct air link."

Since 2003, after London, Birmingham has attracted more Chinese investment projects than any other Britain city, receiving 76.59 million pound in capital investment and creating 596 jobs during this period. In 2010, Birmingham received 8.68 million pound in capital investment from China.

MG Motor UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanghai based SAIC Motor, the eighth largest automotive manufacture in the world, selling 4 million vehicles this year.