LONDON, June 18 -- Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on Chinese and British youth to promote practical cooperation between their countries in growth, reform and innovation, and to enhance friendship and understanding between the two peoples.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, an independent business network committed to promoting positive relations between China and Britain, and representatives of its Young Icebreakers.

Li appreciated the courage demonstrated by the first batch of 48 Group Club icebreakers in overcoming great obstacles to set up trade relations between China and Britain over six decades ago.

China-Britain relations have constantly achieved fresh development thanks to the efforts of both peoples, he said.

Perry and the Young Icebreakers, for their part, said China and Britain enjoy vast space for cooperation, and that the 48 Group Club committed itself to promoting the development of Britain-China ties and increasing the international community's understanding of the Asian country.

The Young Icebreakers are ready to enhance communication with Chinese youth and contribute to boosting the Britain-China friendship, they said.

The 48 Group Club, founded in 1954, represents 48 industrial and trading enterprises who broke the trade embargo imposed by the West against China to set up Britain-China trade relations. Young Icebreakers was founded in May 2008 under the club.

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