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The Chinese Embassy in the UK Holds Seminar on the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-UK Ambassadorial Diplomatic Relations
2022-03-24 23:00

On 22 March, the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a seminar themed China and the UK: Working Together for a Better Future to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-UK ambassadorial diplomatic relations. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang delivered a speech entitled Working Together for a Better Future. Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for European Affairs, attended and addressed the seminar online. Dan Chugg, Director for Northeast Asia and China at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, Liam Byrne MP, and Sir Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills delivered speeches at the seminar. Jiang Jiang, Vice President of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the seminar online, and representatives from British sectors of business, culture, education, science and technology, as well as Chinese enterprises, overseas Chinese communities and students in Britain attended the seminar on site, including Chairman of the 48 Group Club Stephen Perry, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, and Chairman of the Great Britain China Centre Sir Martin Davidson.

Participants expressed their condolences about the tragic crash of China Eastern Airlines flight MU5735.

In his speech, Ambassador Zheng Zeguang first expressed thanks to friends from all sectors of both China and the UK for their long-standing care and support for the cooperative ties between the two countries. He used three key words, namely pioneering, extensive and win-win, to summarize the development of the China-UK relationship over the past 50 years. The two countries have adopted pioneering spirit, kept expanding the range of collaboration, and maintained a win-win nature of cooperation, which fully proved that the cooperation between China and the UK have not only brought benefits to the peoples of the two countries but also played a positive role in promoting world peace, stability and prosperity.

Ambassador Zheng said, after 50 years, the world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century. China and the UK each has entered a new development stage, and the China-UK relationship is facing a new situation. Against this backdrop, the two sides should take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity and work together to promote the steady and sustained development of the China-UK relationship on the right track of dialogue and cooperation. 

First, the two countries should have a right understanding of each other. President Xi Jinping pointed out that for China-UK relations to fare well, mutual understanding is the precondition. The right of every country to choose the development path and policies that suits its national conditions should be fully respected. Chinese people have great confidence in their path. China’s development will only create opportunities for the common development of all countries. It will not pose any threat to any country.

Second, the two countries should deepen political mutual trust. This is the foundation for the healthy and steady development of the China-UK relationship. For the Chinese people, the affairs related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet are not issues of human rights, democracy or religion. They are affairs that bear on the nation’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China adheres to the principle of non-interference and strongly opposes interference in its internal affairs by any external force. In the meantime, China stands ready to engage in equal-footed dialogue with other countries on the basis of respecting each other’s core interests and major concerns, in order to narrow differences, find common ground and deepen mutual trust. 

Third, the two countries should expand practical cooperation. Practical cooperation is the adhesive for the China-UK relationship. The two sides should, in a win-win and pioneering spirit, expand cooperation in traditional areas, explore new areas, and create new highlights. “We hope that the UK will be equally committed to open cooperation and foster a stable and friendly political environment and a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises here in this country,” added the Ambassador.

Fourth, the two countries should shoulder the responsibilities as major countries. China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and should bear global significance. The two countries should also strengthen communication and coordination in combating COVID-19, tackling climate change, promoting global economic recovery and green development, as well as on Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear issue and so forth. Together China and the UK can make greater contributions to world peace and development.

Fifth, the two countries should deepen friendship between the peoples. Such friendship has always been the source of strength for the development of China-UK relations. It should be cherished at all times. “We hope that Chinese students will be able to study in a friendly and safe environment. The two countries should also encourage more exchange and cooperation in culture, sports and tourism and other areas after the pandemic,” said the Ambassador.

Ambassador Zheng also stated China’s principle and position on the situation in Ukraine, stressing that China has always been a force for justice and peace, and has always stood on the right side of history. 

Ambassador Zheng said the road ahead will not be without difficulties, but China and the UK must move forward with confidence and concerted efforts. “We must not allow differences to mask the broad consensus between our two sides. We cannot afford to miss out on long-term opportunities because of temporary setbacks. The Chinese Embassy is ready to work together with friends from all sectors in the UK to forge ahead and create a better future for China-UK relations,” said the Ambassador in closing.

In his speech, Wu Hongbo said that over the 50 years since China and the UK established diplomatic relations of ambassadorial level, there are three lessons learned in the development of relations between the two sides: first, we should uphold the pioneering spirit, break traditional political barriers and tide over ideological bias; second, we should continue the mutually-beneficial cooperation that benefits our two countries and many generations to come, and firmly oppose the weaponization and politicization of trade; third, we should  respect each other’s core interests and major concerns by going beyond so called political correctness and ideological differences, to engage in dialogues on the basis of equality and mutual understanding and to work together for the common interests of the two countries. At the present, both China and the UK are entering a new stage of development, and both countries could be good partners in our respective strategic pursuits. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of all, we will welcome together a magnificent new chapter of China-UK relations in the next 50 years.

Guests attending the seminar talked about their respective experiences of participating in China-UK exchanges and cooperation and put forward their opinions and suggestions on the future development of the bilateral relationship. They pointed out that during the 50 years since the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between China and the UK, both countries have undergone tremendous changes and achieved important development in their relations, which shows that countries with different systems can coexist peacefully and cooperate for mutual benefit. China and the UK should take a rational and comprehensive view of their relations and properly address their differences; they should conduct candid dialogues, enhance mutual understanding, display patience with each other and strengthen inclusive and resilient cooperation; they should promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as trade and economy, education, culture, science and technology, and promote regional cooperation; they should resist populism and anti-globalization thinking, oppose cold war mindset and bloc rivalry, and jointly safeguard the international free trade system; they should jointly address international and regional hotspot issues and global challenges, and uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They also expressed their willingness to continue to support and participate in China-UK friendly exchanges and cooperation and make new contributions to the future development of the relations.


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