UK Ambassador Sebastian Wood completed his tour around China and shared his thoughts Tuesday in Beijing.

China's enormous potential for development provides many areas for partnerships with the UK, such as in the service sectors, high-value-added industries and tourism, said the UK Ambassador to China Sebastian Wood Tuesday. He was speaking at a press conference after returning from a 79-day, 10-city tour.

"China combines amazing modernity with real development challenges," Wood said. "On the one hand, China is the second-largest world economy and the largest world trading country. On the other hand, China has 500 million people living on less than 2 dollars a day."

Wood saw a huge untapped market in Inner Mongolia with a wealth of natural resources and innovative, environmentally-friendly technologies, which inspired him to seek more business opportunities for British companies. He also hopes the UK can cooperate with Shenzhen on developing a low-carbon economy.

He said that as China's resources have increased and the country has less need for external assistance, the UK and China can do more together to help other countries, such as South Africa, with China's successful development experiences.

Wood also discussed successful cooperative projects, such as an elementary school in Gansu Province. He said rural development is a very important part of the next phase of China's economy.

"In Chongqing, I visited a noisy and happy school for children of migrant workers," Wood said. "I was impressed by the government's efforts and determination to reduce the imbalance between the rural and the urban areas."

The ambassador also met many young people working with non-profit organizations that provided services to the needy, such as migrant workers and disabled. He said these groups are playing an increasingly vital role in China's modern development.

Wood's tour consisted of Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Lanzhou, Hohhot, Ordos and Baotou.

Pic: UK Ambassador Sebastian Wood talks about his trip around China.