Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong addresses the Sino-Britain Publishing and Media Industry Investment Forum in London, Britain, April 15, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

LONDON -- Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong on Sunday called for deepened and broadened cooperation in cultural exchanges between China and Britain so as to help develop a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Addressing the Sino-Britain Publishing and Media Industry Investment Forum which is part of the ongoing London Book Fair 2012, Liu said cultural exchanges between the two countries had reached an unprecedented level of scale and dynamism in recent years, which enabled people from both countries to further understand each other and promote their friendship.

About 150 major Chinese publishers interested in investing overseas took part in forum.

Liu said combining China's rich historical and cultural resources as well as its vast cultural consumption market, together with Britain's modern technology and mature business operation mode, the two countries could benefit from each other's strengths and achieve win-win cooperation.

The State Councilor said the beauty of the world lied in its diversity of civilizations, and that people should seek harmony among differences, and pursue development through interaction.

Liu said China and Britain should further explore cooperation in the fields of new media, new technology, and the emerging cultural industry, against the backdrop of the digitization era that brought new characteristics to the cultural communication.

She also introduced China's plan to build a public culture service system for both urban and rural residents, and build the cultural industry into one of the pillar industries in national economy.

The forum was jointly organized by UK Trade and Investment and China Youth Publishing.

The Investment Forum is designed to serve as an effective platform for British delegates to gain understanding of the progress Chinese publishing and media industries have made since the reform and opening-up drive, as well as their increasingly strong interests in investing overseas.

The State Councilor had met with Business Secretary Vince Cable earlier in the day and visited the Imperial College.