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HOME > China-UK Relations > Political Exchanges
Top Ten Events of 2010 for China-UK Relations
2011-02-05 23:18

1. Smooth transition and continuous development of China-UK relations after the change of the British Government

On May 11, a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was formed after the general election in the UK. Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister David Cameron and had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister, in which Mr. Cameron said that the British coalition government will continue to pursue an active policy towards China and will be committed to promoting the UK-China relations. Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg exchanged letters. At the invitation of Vice Premier Wang Qishan of the State Council, British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visited China as the first important cabinet member to do so after the British coalition government came into power. The sustained close contacts between the leaders of the two countries have ensured the smooth transition and continuous development of the China-UK relations.

2. President Hu Jintao met with Prime Minister David Cameron at the G20 Summit in Toronto

On June 26, President Hu Jintao met with Prime Minister David Cameron at the G20 Summit in Toronto. It was the first meeting between the head of state of China and the UK after the British coalition government came into power. President Hu said in the meeting that China views Britain as a partner for international cooperation and the two countries have established a fairly complete mechanism of exchanges. The two countries have maintained high-level contacts and achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields, he added. Given that the global financial crisis has not yet subsided and global problems have become increasingly prominent, China and Britain have broad common interests in propelling the full recovery of the world economy and coping with global challenges, he stressed. The two countries should continue to strengthen communication and coordination, accommodate each other's interests and address each other's concerns to make G20 an effective platform for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, said Hu. Prime Minister Cameron said Britain highly values its relations with China and hopes to further improve them. His country is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges, promote the economic partnership and enhance the strategic dialogue with China.

3. Prime Minister David Cameron successfully visited China

On November 9 to 10, at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, British Prime Minister David Cameron visited China with the largest ever delegation, accompanied by 4 cabinet ministers and over 50 entrepreneurs. During the visit, President Hu Jintao met with Prime Minister David Cameron, Premier Wen Jiabao talked with him and Vice Premier Li Keqiang attended the China-UK Business Summit with him. The leader of the two countries reached broad consensus on further promoting the China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership. Cameron said that the UK firmly adheres to the one-China policy, always regards China's development as an opportunity and hopes to work with China to establish a partnership for growth.

President Hu Jintao meets with Prime Minister Cameron

Premier Wen Jiabao holds a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Cameron

Vice Premier Li Keqiang attended the China-UK Business Summit together with

Prime Minister Cameron

4. The "Expo Diplomacy" has become one of the biggest highlight in the China-UK relations

The Shanghai World Expo was held successfully from April to October. On September 8, HRH Prince Andrew, British Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, and Ms. Fu Ying, Vice Foreign Minister of China, attended the British Pavilion Day at the Shanghai Expo together. The British Pavilion "Dandelion" attracted over 8 million visitors with its innovative design and won the Gold Design Award of the Shanghai World Expo. From late April to November, the Embassy in the UK actively carried out "Expo diplomacy". It organised receptions for the opening and closing of the Shanghai World Expo, and held from June 11 the "Expo Now" Photo Exhibition of the Shanghai World Expo in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool, which received tens of thousands of visitors. "Expo diplomacy" further enhanced the British public's understanding of contemporary China.

On September 8, HRH Prince Andrew attended the British Pavilion Day at the

Shanghai World Expo.

Prince Andrew visits the British Pavilion together with Vice Minister Fu Ying

On September 21, the Photo Exhibition of Shanghai World Expo was held in Liverpool.

Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson is handing to Ambassador Liu Xiaoming the shirts presented by the famous English Premier League club Everton to the Shanghai World Expo.

5. China and UK upgraded their Strategic Dialogue mechanism

From March 14 to 17, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited China at the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Premier Wen Jiabao met with Mr. Miliband, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talked with him, and State Councillor Dai Bingguo held with him the China-UK Strategic Dialogue, the first session after the dialogue was upgraded. From July 14 to 15, Foreign Secretary William Hague of the British coalition government visited China and held with State Councillor Dai Bingguo the first China-UK Strategic Dialogue after the coalition government took office. Premier Wen Jiabao met with Mr. Hague and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talked with him.

On March 16, State Councilor Dai Bingguo co-charied the Strategic Dialogue with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in Beijing. This was the first round of dialogue after the mechanism was upgraded from the vice-ministerial level.

On July 14, the China-UK Strategic Dialogue was held in Beijing

6. The channels, levels and forms of dialogue and communication between China and the UK have been more diverse.

On January 28, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the International Conference on Afghanistan in London and held with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband a bilateral meeting. From February 2 to 4, the PLA Deputy Chief of General Staff Ma Xiaotian visited the UK and held the first China-UK Strategic Defense Consultation with the British First Deputy Chief of the Defense Staff Jock Stirrup. On March 18, the 18th China-UK Human Rights Dialogue was held in Beijing. From September 13 to 15, the 4th China-UK Leadership Forum was held in Beijing. On November 9, during Prime Minister Cameron's visit to China, Vice Premier Wang Qishan and British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne co-chaired the Third Economic and Financial Dialogue, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and British Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable co-chaired the Ninth Economic and Trade Joint Committee session, Minister of Education Yuan Guiren and British Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove co-chaired the Fifth China-UK Education Submit and the Head of the National Energy Board Zhang Guobao and British Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne co-chaired the First China-UK Energy Dialogue. On November 22, Minister of the State Council Information Office Wang Chen visited the UK and co-chaired the Third China-UK Internet Roundtable with British BIS Minister of State for Weiser.

On January 28, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the International Conference on Afghanistan in London

On November 9, the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue was held in Beijing.

Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, who came to preside over the Third China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue

On November 9, Vice Premier Li Keqiang co-chaired the Third China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue with British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne

7. Trade between China and UK has hit a new high.

The trade between China and UK moved out of the shadow of the financial crisis, and hit a record high. The Chinese statistics show the annual trade in goods exceeded US$ 50 billion, and according to the British estimates, trade in goods and services between the two countries throughout the year is expected to reach 60 billion pounds, achieving the trade target set by the Premier and Prime Minister in 2008. During Prime Minister Cameron's visit to China, the two sides also proposed a new target of US$ 100 billion for the China-UK trade to be achieved by 2015. The two sides will enhance their cooperation in infrastructure development, high-end manufacturing, green and low-carbon technologies, financial services and other fields and nurture new driving forces for growth, so as to achieve long-term and sustainable development of the China-UK trade and economic cooperation.

On November 9, Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Cameron attended the signing ceremony of China-UK bilateral agreements

8. More substantial results have been achieved in the exchanges and cooperation in various fields between China and the UK

Member of the Military Commission of CPC Central Committee and Air Force Commander Xu Qiliang visited the UK, and British Chief of Defense Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and Chief of the General Staff Sir Peter Wall respectively visited China, further enhancing the mutual understanding and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries. Deputy Minister of Health Chen Xiaohong and British Secretary of State for Health William Burns signed the 2010-2013 China-UK Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation. Minister of General Administration of Press and Publication Liu Binjie visited the UK and signed with the British side the Memorandum of Agreement of China as the Guest of Honour, Marketing Focus Programme, to 2012 London Book Fair. The exhibition of "Imperial Robes of the Forbidden City" was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London as the most important embroidery theme exhibition ever held by the Museums in China and the UK. The educational exchanges between the two countries are active, with a total of nearly 120,000 Chinese students studying in the UK.

On September 6, the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Agreement of China as the Guest of Honour, Marketing Focus Programme, to 2012 London Book Fair was held

The exhibition of "Imperial Robes of the Forbidden City" was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

9. "Mandarin Fever" in the UK continues to grow and cultural exchanges and public diplomacy make new progress

"Mandarine fever" is emerging in the UK with 13 Confucius Institutes and 54 Confucius Classrooms. British students Stewart Johnson won the top prize and the title of "Outstanding Ambassador of the Chinese Language" at the Ninth "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, not only achieving a breakthrough from zero on medals for the British contestants, but also taking the first place. "Happy Chinese New Year" series of cultural activities in Trafalgar Square in London attracted about 300,000 participants and the attention of the major media in the UK, and became the largest celebration for the Chinese New Year outside Asia. The Embassy held the China Forum respectively during the annual conferences of the three major political parties, namely the Liberal Democrat Party, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming presided over the Forum and delivered speeches to brief the British political leaders, parliament members and grassroots members of the three parties on China's national conditions and future development, explain China's position on major international issues and help all walks of the society in the UK to better understand China. Ambassador Liu also gave many media interviews, worte articles for the mainstream newspapers and delivered speeches to explain the domestic and foreign policies in China and the nature of China as a developing country and guided the British public to have a comprehensive and objective view of China. The external website of the Embassy was comprehensively revised, leading to a significant increase in the clickthrough rate. It has become the fourth most poplular websites among all Chinese Embassies.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and British Foreign Office Minister of State Jeremy Browne (right) on the podium of the China Forum during the Annual Conference of the Liberal Democrat Party on September 20

On October 21, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Westminster City Councillor Nicholas Yarker inaugurated the Confucius Classroom of St. Mary Primary School in London

10. Consular protection in the UK has reached a new level

The Embassy in the UK actively promotes knowledge of preventive consular protection, carried out "Civilisation and Security" in-campus activities in British universities and produced the consular protection feature video named "Safe all the way in Britain" to enhance the sense of safety and self-protection of the Chinese citizens travelling in Britain. The Embassy properly handled major emergencies such as the Icelandic volcanic ash and thousands of stranded Chinese travellers in London Heathrow Airport due to snow storm. It also actively consulted with the British side on the tightening immigration policy of the UK to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizens, legal persons and overseas compatriots.

The promotional feature film on consular protection produced by the Chinese Embassy in the UK

Counsel-General Lu Xu of the Embassy in the UK led the staff of the Education Session to the University of Plymouth to give lectures on consular protection to the Chinese students there

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