On March 6, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming attended 2020 Partners Luncheon under the China-UK Charity Initiative co-hosted by the City of London and China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), and delivered a speech entitled Join Hands for Charity to Meet the Challenge. William Russell, Lord Mayor of the City of London and Lady Mayoress, Vincent Keaveny, Lord Mayor-Designate of the City of London, Peter Estlin, former Lord Mayor of the City of London, John McLean, Head of China-UK relations for The Lord Mayor's Appeal, Fang Wenjian, Chairman of CCCUK and representatives from China-UK Charity Initiative partners were present at the event.

Informing his audience that “in Beijing this afternoon, President Xi Jinping attended a symposium on winning the decisive battle against poverty and made important remarks,” Ambassador Liu commended the Chinese and British businesses in London who joined hands to raise fund for charity works in both countries. He said, this shows that “love knows no border” and displays “the three bonds” between the peoples of the two countries, namely, the mutual help, the shared commitment to charity and the common responsibility for a shared future.

“In our fight against the epidemic, the Chinese and British business communities have expressed strong support to China and offered help through donations. I am sure that the China-UK Charity Initiative will play a bigger role and inject new impetus into our joint efforts in this battle against the epidemic and in enhancing global public health,” the Ambassador said. Deeper cooperation in charity work between the Chinese and British business communities reflects the belief of both countries that “wealth comes from society and should go back to society” and will continue to drive forward China-UK cooperation in financial services, economy and charity work.

“In the past 40 plus years since the adoption of the reform and opening up policies, China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty, which accounted for more than 70% of the world’s total.” “Poverty reduction has been a focus of the China-UK Charity Initiative. Thanks to the support from CCCUK and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the China-UK Charity Initiative has made remarkable progress. I hope this Initiative will achieve greater success. I am sure you will make new and greater contribution to the common wellbeing of the peoples of our two countries,” Ambassador Liu added.

Lord Mayor Russell said, since its launch in 2018, the China-UK Charity Initiative has been committed to giving back to society, promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and business cooperation with China, and enhancing friendship and mutual trust between China and the UK. In 2019, the Initiative completed its first successful charity project in China, supporting rural education in Xianyang, Shaanxi province. Today’s partner cooperation project has attracted donations from 13 Chinese and British businesses, taking the Initiative to a new level. Facing the common challenge of Covid-19 epidemic, it is necessary for both countries to strengthen international cooperation and overcome the difficulties together.

Chairman Fang Wenjian said in his speech that by helping Zhemi Town, Jinping County, Yunnan Province build its very first clinic that meets the medial standard and offers medical and epidemic prevention services to villagers, the project of China-UK Charity Initiative fully demonstrates the friendship and solidarity between China and Britain in face of the severe test of the Covid-19 epidemic. CCCUK will continue to promote the sustainable development of China-UK Charity Initiative projects and make new contribution to China-UK cooperation in such areas as business and culture.

During the luncheon, Ambassador Liu and Lord Mayor Russell jointly presented certificates to 2020 cooperation partners of the China-UK Charity Initiative.