BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese vice president Li Yuanchao met with a British delegation attending the eighth China-UK Leadership Forum in Beijing on Wednesday.

The delegation was led by Clarke Kenneth from the Conservative Party, former British justice secretary, and Peter Mandelson from the Labor Party, who is former First Secretary of State and Business Secretary.

Praising the importance of the forum, Li said China and Britain have broad common interests, and deepening bilateral ties will gain wide support from all walks of life.

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Britain last month. During his visit, the two countries upgraded ties to "a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century" and agreed that the visit heralded a new era in China-UK relations.

During the meeting on Wednesday afternoon, both sides agreed to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and promote pragmatic cooperation and party-to-party communication.

Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the forum in Beijing on Tuesday.