Premier Li Keqiang, accompanied by British Prime Minister David Cameron, inspects a guard of honor at the Treasury in London on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]

Chinese companies to take part in British network construction

On Wednesday • Li addresses top British think tanks • Attends China-UK Financial Forum • Meets business leaders from both countries The regular exchange mechanism between China and the UK includes: • Annual meeting of Chinese premier and British prime minister • China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue • China-UK Strategic Dialogue • China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue

Premier Li Keqiang, acting as a super salesman for Chinese products, promoted the nation's high-speed rail and nuclear power technologies to Britain on Tuesday, with a series of landmark deals signed.

Twenty-six agreements worth $25 billion were signed on the second day of Li's three-day visit to Britain, his first to the country since taking office last year.

The premier met Queen Elizabeth II in the morning before being hosted by British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street after a grand welcoming ceremony.

Li and Cameron oversaw the signing of deals ranging from energy, finance and infrastructure to climate change.

Under a framework agreement, Britain welcomes Chinese firms taking part in its planned high-speed HS2 rail network, a 42 billion pound ($71.2 billion) project, with the first 192-km stage linking London and Birmingham.

The two sides will attempt to reach consensus on high-speed rail standards, key technologies and equipment.

It will be a milestone for Chinese high-speed rail companies to export technology to Britain, which built the world's first railway in 1825.

Zhao Jian, a professor of transportation economics at Beijing Jiaotong University, said: "China has mature technologies and an excellent record of building railways. It has built thousands of kilometers of rail lines under various climatic conditions."

China boasts the world's longest high-speed rail network, of more than 11,208 km.

Zhao said Tuesday's framework agreement is the initial stage of a much larger cooperation plan, adding, "China may participate in more projects across Europe, especially in the eastern part of the continent."

A high-speed rail line planned in Romania using Chinese technology and financing is being discussed within the European Union, according to China Securities Journal.