Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met former British Prime Minister Tony Blair Thursday in Beijing, and said China will continue its efforts to develop relations with the United Kingdom.

Li said the two countries shared many common interests and mutual understanding on the issues such as trade and investment protectionism and reform of the the international financial system.

China would make concerted efforts with Britain to work for an early recovery of the world economy, Li told Blair.

Li, warning that the current international situation was undergoing a profound transition, called on the international community to work together more to tackle the economic crisis.

Blair said he appreciated the measures China had taken to curb the crisis and its contribution to stabilize the world economy.

He also expressed his willingness to continue to cooperate with China in fields such as environmental protection.

Blair's visit is at the invitation of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Blair served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007. He is the envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East, which comprises the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2009)