?State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Britain's Prince Andrew in Beijing on Wednesday, saying that China expects further cooperation and exchanges with the U.K.

The two countries' leaders had a successful meeting in Hangzhou in September, during the G20 summit, and confirmed the path of China-U.K. relations, Yang said, adding that China is willing to elevate these relations.

China appreciates the royal family's contributions to the China-U.K. friendship, and expects them to continue to play an active role in promoting China-U.K. friendship and cooperation, he said.

Prince Andrew, who is also the Duke of York, said that the U.K. hopes to improve cooperation and exchanges with China, and the royal family is willing to be active in this regard, so that mutual understanding and cooperation of the two countries will be further enhanced.