Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, gives speech in the Royal Botanic Gardens in London on Tuesday night. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

London – The Shanghai Expo is added testimony to the close partnership between China and the UK, according to the Chinese ambassador to the UK.

"China-UK cooperation is off to a renewed start and is on a fast track. Our relationship promises many more opportunities and new progress," Liu Xiaoming said in the Royal Botanic Gardens on Tuesday night.

"The first official visit to China by Prime Minister David Cameron early next month will take our relations to a new level," added Liu.

The British government and the British people have shown a keen interest in the Shanghai Expo, and the distinctive UK Pavilion has been a sensation with Chinese people, he said.

The UK Pavilion has been the busiest of the European pavilions with more than seven million visitors. The Zero-Carbon and Liverpool Pavilions are also popular at the Shanghai Expo.

As the Shanghai Expo is coming to a close, the EXPO NOW Photo Exhibition hosted by the Chinese Embassy since June is also about to complete its mission in the UK.

About 100 Expo photos have been on display in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool, enabling UK people who have not been able to go to Shanghai, to get the flavor and excitement of the Expo.

"We are also delighted and encouraged that the exhibition has attracted tens of thousands of visitors," Liu said.

"I hope that the success of the British's contribution to the Shanghai Expo will become a symbol, which embodies the determination that the UK and China become partners devoted to economic growth," said Mark Prisk, the British business and enterprise minister of state.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also hopes his visit to China can accomplish closer cooperation between the two countries, Prisk added.

Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the UK Pavilion, is said he is excited and delighted that the pavilion has attracted so many visitors and become a new symbol for the UK.

"It's amazing," said Heatherwick.

The success of the UK Pavilion is a testament to UK-China cooperation, he said.

Heatherwick also said that he thanks the Chinese government for giving him this opportunity to show his creation and thanks the British government for accepting the dandelion-esque design to represent the UK.