On 19 June, Charge d'Affairs Zhang Lirong attended the annual dinner of the Yorkshire Society and delivered a speech at the City Hall of the City of London. State Minister Rosie Winterton of Regional and Transportation Affairs, Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and over 350 people from business, energy, medical and tourist sectors also attended.

Zhang Lirong, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, wished the event a success. He commented positively on the efforts made by the Yorkshire Society in promoting China-UK relations and bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Zhang Lirong introduced briefly China's policy measures in saving energy and reducing emission. He listed energy saving, environmental protection and sustainable development as key areas in economic relations and trade between China and the UK. Wuhan and UK Trade Investment (UKTI) signed the memorandum of understanding on sustainable city. Business communities in the two countries reached agreement on the eco-city project in Dongtai, Shanghai. The zero-emission cooperation project between China and the UK were formally launched. Britain accounts for 40% in nearly 1000 clean development mechanism projects that China has approved. Yorkshire has advanced technology and expertise in sustainable development of coal, clean energy and rejuvenation of old industrial base, which China can learn.

Zhang Lirong said that during Prime Minister Brown's visit to China in January, leaders of the two countries set the bilateral trade volume at 60 billion USD by 2010 and proposed 5 key areas of cooperation including technology trade, joint innovation, energy and environment, financial service and intellectual property rights protection. There is a broad prospect for closer economic relations and trade between China and the UK. He expressed his hope that people in the UK would seize opportunity and push for greater development of China-UK relations and comprehensive cooperation in all fields.

Zhang Lirong introduced the progress China made in earthquake rescue and relief. He thanked the British government and people for their sympathy, support and generous donation to the people in the disaster areas.

Prescott said in his speech that China was enjoying sound economic situation. The government has proposed the concept of harmonious development and actively participated in international affairs with positive contribution on the UN peace-keeping and the North Korean nuclear issue. China is in the phase of industrialization and working to overcome challenges of climate change. Rich countries in the west should not transfer the pressure of reducing emission on China and other developing countries. Countries that have already gone through industrialization have the responsibility to shoulder more obligations on reducing emission. It takes both the joint efforts of the international community and cooperation between countries and regions to face the challenges posed by globalization. Yorkshire is ready to share with China its technology and expertise in clean coal, storage of CO2 and eco-city and join hands to face global challenge of climate change. Keith Madeley, head of the Yorkshire Society also expressed their willingness to establish sister relations with provinces in China to further strengthen cooperation.

A seminar was held in the afternoon to discuss cooperation between China and Yorkshire on clean energy and sustainable development.