LONDON, July 19 (Xinhua)-- Chinese ambassador to Britain on Thursday urged his country and Britain to join hands to voice support for the economic globalization and opposition to unilateralism and protectionism.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming made the remarks at the Fifth China Economic Symposium held by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

He said that peace and development remain the theme of our times, but unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise.

"The international community must choose between isolation and openness, between stagnation and progress, and between self-supremacy and win-win cooperation," Liu said.

He said that both China and Britain champion openness and free trade, adding that they should match their development strategies and deepen trade and economic cooperation so as to contribute to building an open world economy.

Liu said the Chinese government will continue to roll out opening-up measures to create a more investment-friendly environment.

He appreciated the importance that Britain places on the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

"As Chancellor (of the Exchequer Philip)Hammond said, Britain is a 'natural partner' for China in advancing the BRI," Liu said. "As a 'natural partner', Britain has 'natural advantages'."

He stressed that it is openness and inclusiveness that have set the stage for multi-lateral trade and it is openness and inclusiveness that have laid the foundation for the China-Britain "Golden Era".

"Regardless of how the international landscape may evolve, China will continue to uphold openness and inclusiveness," the senior diplomat said. "China will open up to the world with a wider scope, in greater depth, and at a higher level."