Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan met Thursday with visiting British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne in Beijing.

This is the first overseas tour for Osborne since he assumed office. Wang congratulated Osborne on his appointment.

As China and Britain had strong complementarity in the economic field, the two countries enjoyed great potential in cooperation, Wang said.

China hoped the two countries would make use of the mechanism of bilateral economic and financial dialogue, to deepen dialogue and cooperation on economic issues of comprehensive, long-term, and strategic importance, so as to push forward bilateral ties, Wang said.

Osborne said his visit to China was aimed at strengthening UK-China relations, and boosting trade and investment.

He said he was looking forward to co-chairing the new round of UK-China economic and financial dialogue with Wang this year.

Initiated in 2008, the dialogue had been held twice already, in 2008 and 2009.

They also exchanged views on the global economic situation and the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in Toronto later this month.