
On 30 July 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attended a reception for the British business community jointly hosted by the China-Britain Business Council and the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and delivered a keynote speech titled “New Blueprint of China’s Reform Will Bring New Opportunities for China-UK Cooperation.” Over 150 guests from the British government, as well as business, academia, and other sectors of both China and the UK joined the event.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that China will implement the important decisions made at the third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee. In the coming five years, China will complete more than 300 important reform measures and improve systems and mechanisms across sectors. In this process, we will further unleash social vitality and development momentum, vigorously promote high-quality development, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, promote the green and low-carbon transition, and advance high-standard opening up. China’s comprehensive reform and modernisation will bring new opportunities for the UK and other countries.
Ambassador Zheng noted that since the beginning of this year, the world economy has been facing many challenges. Despite that, China’s economy made steady progress and its GDP grew by 5%. We have a super-size market, complete industrial system with strong capabilities, strong policy support, and new drivers of growth and new advantages. We are fully confident that we will be able to overcome any short-term risks and challenges, achieve our growth target for 2024, and secure long-term development.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the world is a turbulent place and transformation is real and accelerating. But China has always been a staunch force for world peace and development. We continue to call for an equal and orderly multipolar world, and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. When some people are stoking bloc confrontation along ideological lines, China is advocating transcending disagreements and differences and actively practising peaceful coexistence among nations. When some people are disrupting the global industrial and supply chains under the pretext of so-called "de-risking", China is promoting win-win cooperation, and safeguarding the security and stability of these global chains. When some people are adding fuel to the fire to intensify conflicts, China is working tirelessly to promote peace talks, and facilitating national reconciliation and political settlement. China will always stand on the side of peace and justice and the right side of history.
Ambassador Zheng emphasised that now is a critical time for China-UK relations, with both new opportunities and new challenges. The 52 years of diplomatic relations between China and the UK proves that cooperation serves both sides and the world. We welcome the Labour government’s message to strengthen engagement with China at all levels. The right approach to China-UK relations is respecting each other, focusing on cooperation, managing differences and facing challenges together. Our two countries can work together for the common good.
We welcome more UK investors, tourists and students in China. Both sides should support our peoples in actively engaging in exchanges and cooperation. It is hoped that the business communities of both countries will build more bridges for communication, and create more highlights in cooperation. Together, we can work to build a stable and mutually beneficial China-UK relationship.
Peter Burnett, Chief Executive of the China-Britain Business Council, and Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, delivered remarks respectively. Attendees from various sectors of both countries expressed admiration for China's achievements and anticipation for its reform measures, and committed to continue actively participating in and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and friendly exchanges between China and the UK.
