The establishment of the UK-China Innovation Park in Cambridge, the first of its kind between the two countries, is "an important step" in their cooperation on science and technology, said a British government minister in Beijing Wednesday.

Minister for Science and Innovation David Sainsbury said at a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the park held at the British embassy that the park, officially opened on Sept. 24, would provide a base for Chinese high-tech companies to expand business in Britain.

Ma Songde, vice-minister of Science and Technology of China, said the park was the first of its kind in Europe and a platform for researchers, investors and companies of the two countries to strengthen cooperation.

The park was expected to help Chinese businesses in Britain and Europe at large, thus playing an important role in promoting scientific and technological cooperation, said Ma.

After the ceremony, two Chinese high-tech companies received the Enterprise Competition Award with a bonus totaling 1.3 million yuan (US$157,000). The award is part of the "Think UK" program, a series of events designed to bring the British spirit of innovation and creativity to China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)