On 9 April, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming had a telephone conversation with the Rt Hon Conor Burns, Minister of State for Trade Policy, and exchanged views with him on China-UK economic and trade relationship and cooperation on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Liu said, in a matter of one month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Boris Johnson had two telephone conversations, in which they reached important agreement on promoting China-UK cooperation. They also mapped out the direction and defined the mission for the development of the bilateral relations between the two countries. China stands ready to work together with the UK to implement such agreement, make closer trade arrangements and deepen economic and trade cooperation. Ambassador Liu expressed the hope that UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission, an important mechanism to promote China-UK economic and trade relationship, would hold its 14th session in the UK within this year. He also invited the UK side to join the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE). China is willing to enhance international collaboration with the UK by upholding free trade and multilateralism and opposing protectionism and unilateralism, so as to build an open world economy, said the Ambassador.

Right now, said the Ambassador, China is working conscientiously to deliver the agreement between President Xi and Prime Minister Johnson on closer China-UK cooperation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic by facilitating the purchase of medical equipment from China. Recently, 300 ventilators from China arrived in Britain. A joint team of medical experts from China's Shandong Province and China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) have also donated medical supplies and equipment, including ventilators, protective gowns, goggles and masks. China stands ready to provide assistance to the UK to the best of its capability.

Minister Burns said that the UK attaches great importance to the agreement between the two leaders and is committed to developing UK-China economic and trade relations. It will give full play to the role of UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission in exploring ways to deepen trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. He hoped that the 14th UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission would be held in London once the pandemic is under control. He also expressed his thanks to China for the invitation to the 3rd CIIE. The British side expresses appreciation to the Chinese government for the help and assistance in purchasing medical equipment and to the Chinese people of all walks of life for the donations of medical supplies, said Burns.