President sends birthday message to British monarch as Prince Andrew visits China

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Tuesday to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the country's longest-reigning monarch, who is due to celebrate her 90th birthday this month.

The president gave his message to Prince Andrew, the queen's second son, who is visiting China.

"I understand that ... the United Kingdom will soon be celebrating the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and also the 95th... of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh," Xi said when he met the prince at the Great Hall of the People.

"So ... I'd like to send my birthday greetings. I'd like to wish them good health and longevity," Xi said.

Prince Andrew said that Britain expects to push forward people-to-people exchanges and tangible cooperation with China to fully realize a golden era.

The prince has close links with China. The Chinese embassy in the UK said on its website that he had dinner at the embassy on Feb 8, the first day of Spring Festival.

Tian Dewen, a researcher of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "The visit of the prince reflects the closeness between Beijing and London, as royal family diplomacy is an important part of British diplomacy."

Prince Andrew, who passed on good wishes from the queen to Xi, is the first British royal family member to visit China since Xi visited Britain in October. It was the first visit to Britain by a Chinese head of state for a decade.

Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan were received by the royal family with an impressive show of hospitality.

Prince Andrew accompanied Xi to six events during his visit. In describing the high-level reception that Xi received, UK media used terms such as "most grand" and "private and sincere".

Signings of deals worth nearly 40 billion pounds ($62 billion) were witnessed during the trip, including an agreement to\build a nuclear power plant in southwestern England. The two nations also issued a joint declaration on building a "global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century".

The visit was seen by observers as having opened a golden era in the key relationship. Britain hopes to establish China as its second-biggest trading partner within 10 years.

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