2nd LD: China-Britain "global" partnership sealed with declaration, personal bonds

China and Britain issued Thursday a joint declaration on building a "global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st Century," and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping is adding more personal chemistry to cement the ties.

The declaration specified the bilateral relations with pledges of joint efforts in fields ranging from the internationalization of China's currency RMB and China-European Union (EU) free trade to cyber security and climate change.

Xi's visit to Britain, the first one by a Chinese president in a decade, was hailed to have opened a "golden era" in China-Britain relations featuring enduring, inclusive and win-win cooperation.

"The two sides recognize the global significance and strategic importance of stronger China-UK relations in promoting global peace, stability and prosperity," the declaration said.

The two sides will enhance trade and investment as well as political trust based on equality and mutual respect, it said.

Both sides have a strong interest in cooperating on each other's major initiatives, namely China's "Belt and Road" Initiative and Britain's National Infrastructure Plan and the Northern Powerhouse. They will further discuss a "China-UK infrastructure alliance," it said.

Britain reassured its supports to the inclusion of RMB into the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) special drawing rights (SDR) basket.

Both sides support the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange to carry out a feasibility study on a stock connect, according to the declaration.

The two countries call for the swift launch of a joint feasibility study for a China-EU Free Trade Agreement.

They would also establish a high-level security dialogue, with both sides agreeing not to conduct or support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets or confidential business information, the declaration said.

Multilateral cooperation would be increased to tackle the conditions that give rise to terrorism and extremism, it added.

While the declaration focused more on political and economic collaboration, Xi is adding more cultural flavor and personal chemistry to the ties during the visit.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace on Thursday before their trip to Manchester.

Xi expressed his sincere appreciation for the hospitality and thoughtful arrangement made by the royal family, the government and the British people, saying the visit has given him a "deep and beautiful impression.

While addressing an opening ceremony of an annual meeting of Confucius Institutes in Britain, Xi said Thursday that the essence of Chinese and British cultures has brought a fantastic "chemical reaction" into their own people's way of thinking and lifestyle through people-to-people exchanges.

By attending the Confucius Institutes conference, Xi is apparently winning more hearts and minds.

Steve Bradley, a professor of economics at Britain's Lancaster University, said he was so proud of his student who read a poem by Xi at the conference.

"It's very important that the president comes to support the Confucius Institutes and Classrooms around the UK. It helps our relations to be strengthened over the next few years," Bradley said.

Xi also met British friends including former prime minister Gordon Brown and Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, an independent British business network committed to promoting links with China.

Later in the day, Xi will also hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the latter's country retreat, Chequers.

The two leaders are expected to exchange views on issues of great concerns in the private talks. Endi