On 16 September, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming met with the new British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson CMG at the Chinese Embassy.

Ambassador Liu congratulated Madam Wilson on becoming the new and 13th British Ambassador to China, hoping that she would play an active role in promoting China-UK relations.

Ambassador Liu said, 70 years ago, the UK became the first major Western country to recognize the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 70 years, China-UK relations have made remarkable progress despite ups and downs, and the cooperation between the two countries in various fields has achieved positive results. And such cooperation has great potential and broad prospects in the post-Brexit and post-pandemic era. Currently, China-UK relationship is at a critical juncture. As long as the two countries observe the basic principles governing international relations, especially mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit, the current difficulties could be overcome and China-UK relationship would be back on the right track to a steady and healthy development, which could benefit the peoples of both countries.

Ambassador Wilson expressed her eagerness to take office in China, saying that China is a major country with important international influence, and a Global Britain needs to develop a constructive relationship with China. As UK-China relationship is now at a crucial moment, the UK is ready to conduct a candid dialogue with China, deepen cooperation in trade and investment, the BRI, and other fields, and strengthen international collaboration, so that UK-China relationship would benefit both countries. She also expressed her willingness to have extensive communication with people from all walks of life in China, step up mutual understanding, and strive to promote the continuous development of UK-China relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues of common interest.