On 9 June, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming held a webinar at the Chinese Embassy in the UK where he updated Chinese and British business communities on the just concluded “Two Sessions” in a keynote speech entitled Strengthen the Foundation and Seize the Opportunities of Cooperation to Create a Brighter Future. The event was attended by around 400 online audience, including Stephen Perry, Chairman of the 48 Group Club, Lord Sassoon, President of China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), Sir Sherard, Chairman of CBBC, Fang Wenjian, Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), and representatives from the UK Department for International Trade, local governments, companies, academic communities, consulting organizations and think tanks. The webinar was broadcast live on the Ambassador’s personal Twitter account and on CGTN Facebook to more than 25,000 audience.

Ambassador Liu said in his speech that this year’s “Two Sessions” are special, as they are held under unusual circumstances at an unusual time during the battle against Covid-19. Although shorter and with some adjustments to format, the “Two Sessions” were no less substantial or fruitful.

“My take on the ‘Two Sessions’ is two-fold: more confident and greatly motivated,” Ambassador Liu said, and then shared his briefing on the “Two Sessions” based on three questions.

On the prospects of China’s economic and social development amid Covid-19, Ambassador Liu said that since the outbreak, the whole nation under the direct leadership and command of President Xi Jinping has stood in unity and made utmost efforts to win the battle against the virus. “The most strict, comprehensive and thorough measures of prevention and control were taken. In a little more than one month, we achieved preliminary success in containing the spread of the virus; in about two months, we reduced the number of daily new cases to single digit; and in about three months, the battle of Wuhan and Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, witnessed a decisive victory,” he said. At the same time, China has engaged in international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible spirit and provided strong support and assistance to countries in need to the best of its capability.

“On the public health front, China has achieved important and strategic success in containing the virus. On the economic front, China has also achieved significant success in bringing economic and social activities back on track. These positive signs and rapid recovery bear witness to the strong resilience and enormous potential of China’s economy,” said the Ambassador.

Regarding the direction of China’s development after the pandemic, Ambassador Liu said that COVID-19 will not change China’s goals for economic and social development. First, China will realize its first centenary goal, that is, to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and to eradicate absolute poverty in China in 2020. “This year will mark a new starting point for China. We will then embark on a new journey towards another centenary goal,” he added.

Second, China will draw lessons from the weakness and shortfalls of its public health and medical system exposed in containing the virus, so as to optimize the system for disease prevention and control, improve epidemic monitoring, early warning and emergency response and increase investment in R&D in the area of health care. At the same time, China will join hands with other countries to improve global governance on public health and build a global community of health for all.

Third, China will follow a down-to-earth approach to implement the measures known as “six stabilize”. These measures will promote steady and high-quality growth of the economy and deliver more benefits to the people. As the year 2020 is the last year in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, it is also time to formulate the 14th Five-Year Plan and draw a new blueprint.

Fourth, China will remain committed to reform, opening up, and building an open world economy. “No matter how the situation in the world develops, China will remain committed to deepening reform and promoting development through opening up. We believe closer business cooperation between countries will bring win-win results,” said the Ambassador.

About the prospects of China-UK business cooperation after the pandemic, Ambassador Liu mentioned the telephone conversation the day before between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Raab, who agreed that enhancing the mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and the UK is in the fundamental and long-term interests of both peoples. Ambassador Liu noted that China-UK business cooperation after the pandemic faces four opportunities.

The first opportunity is China’s economic recovery. China is now taking the lead in bringing economic activities back on track. In this process, China has accumulated useful experience. As the UK is also gradually easing the lockdown and restoring its economy, China and the UK could share experience, make full use of the “fast track” for businesses, and work together to realize economic recovery after the outbreak.

The second opportunity is China’s expanding market. China is the world’s second largest consumer market. As China continues to expand domestic demand and increase market access, businesses of all countries could find enormous opportunities for cooperation and development.

The third opportunity arises from new business models and new driving forces. During the outbreak, emerging economic sectors, including “stay-home” economy, digital economy, medical care, FinTech and green development, have shown enormous potential and vitality. Businesses of both countries could seize these opportunities and enhance cooperation on innovation in new business models and new driving forces.

The fourth opportunity will emerge from multilateral business cooperation. China and the UK are both staunch supporters for free trade. It is important for the two sides to join hands to uphold the multilateral trading system and build an open world economy. “We could also expand cooperation in a third market under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. This will provide new impetus for China-UK cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative,” said Ambassador Liu.

Ambassador Liu specifically emphasized that recently, some UK politicians who cling to the Cold-War and colonial mentality made irresponsible remarks regarding the national security legislation for the Hong Kong SAR and interfered in Hong Kong affairs, which are China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side strongly opposes this. Making laws on national security for Hong Kong SAR is purely China’s internal affair. It falls within the legislative power of China and the responsibility of the Central Government, and brooks no external interference. The legislation will provide better safeguards for the rights and freedom of the Hong Kong residents, ensure better protection of the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors in the city, guarantee better rule of law and business environment in Hong Kong, and strengthen people’s confidence in “One Country, Two Systems” and Hong Kong’s development in the future. This legislation has won the support of the majority of Hong Kong people. Many countries have also upheld justice and expressed their appreciation and support for this legislation. A prosperous and stable Hong Kong is in the interests of both China and the UK.

“I have noticed that some big British businesses in Hong Kong have expressed their understanding and support with regard to the legislation. I think this is a wise and visionary move. It is my hope that the British business community will view the national security legislation for the Hong Kong SAR from an objective and reasonable perspective. I hope you will contribute positive energy to the long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong,” said the Ambassador.

Chairman Perry said, China’s achievement in containing COVID-19 is impressive, which set a good example for the UK government and medical institutions. The latest white paper on China’s fight against COVID-19 could help the West understand the reality in China. China is the key contributor to world economic growth. While the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the global economy, China’s economic growth is even more important than ever. The UK should draw lessons from its past experience when it missed the opportunities of China’s development, and recognize that those who advocate “de-sinicization” would only seriously damage the interests of the UK and cause British companies to lose the opportunity to share the dividends of China’s development.

Sir Sherard said, the “Two Sessions” are an important window for observing China’s policy trends. It is encouraging to see that this year’s “Two Sessions” introduced multiple favorable policies, which demonstrate China’s determination in deepening reform and opening up. CBBC is ready to continue promoting exchanges between the business communities of the UK and China, and deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Chairman Fang noted, as the world economy faces a high degree of uncertainty, the “Two Sessions” have sent out a clear and strong message to the world, i.e. the consistency of its opening up policy, which boosts people’s confidence in China’s economic recovery. Instead of talking the talk, he said, business communities of both China and the UK must walk the walk to firmly seize the opportunity of China’s deepening reform and opening up, and promote a steady development of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

After the speech, Ambassador Liu took a range of questions from the online audience, including China’s experience in fighting COVID-19, the national security legislation for Hong Kong, China’s economic policies, BRI cooperation, climate change and environmental cooperation between China and the UK, business environment in China, effects of China’s Civil Code, foreign investment law, and expanding UK’s exports to China.

Participants spoke highly of the briefing, saying that Ambassador Liu’s practical and substantial talk gave a comprehensive update on the key outcomes of this year’s “Two Sessions” and would help the British business community understand China’s policies and positions on containing COVID-19, restoring economy and opening wider to the outside world, and strengthen the confidence in deepening China-UK economic and trade cooperation.