LONDON - The Shanghai Expo is a testament to the close partnership China shares with the United Kingdom, according to the Chinese ambassador to the UK.

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

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