On 24 January 2025, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei, hosted a Chinese New Year reception at the Embassy. More than 400 guests from various sectors including representatives from the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions, and Chinese students attended the event. The full text of Ambassador Zheng’s remarks is as follows:
Fellow Compatriots,
Colleagues from Chinese-funded institutions,
Dear students,
Dear friends,
Good evening.
We will soon bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon and usher in the Year of the Snake. At this festive moment, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend sincere greetings and Chinese New Year wishes to the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions, and Chinese students in the UK, and to friends from all walks of life who follow and support the development of China-UK relations. Happy Chinese New Year to you all!
In the past year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has shown confidence, resolve, and taken practical actions, and made solid gains in advancing Chinese modernisation.
The third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee has made strategic plans for further deepening comprehensive reform. The Chinese economy has rebounded and made progress, with the GDP exceeding 130 trillion yuan for the first time, and a year-on-year increase of 5%.
Efforts to cultivate new quality productive forces meant that new business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging. The annual output of new energy vehicles exceeded 10 million units for the first time. New headway was achieved in green and low-carbon development. China is taking the lead in developing renewable energy and protecting the environment. In China, the rivers are cleaner, the sky bluer and the air fresher. High-standard opening-up was expanded. Both trade in goods and services reached new highs. New achievements were made in science and technology, education, culture, public health, sports, and national defense.
We held high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, actively carried out head-of-state diplomacy and home-ground diplomatic events, pursued all-round diplomacy, and further enhanced our international status and influence. China has injected stability and development momentum into a turbulent world through its own stable development.
In the new year, facing the turbulent and changing international situation, China will continue to respond to external shocks and resolve risks and challenges with confidence, resolve, and practical actions and advance Chinese modernisation through high-quality development.
We will go all out to implement decisions of the third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee to further deepen comprehensive reform and unleash development vitality. We will put to action decisions of the Central Economic Work Conference, and adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and an appropriately accommodative monetary policy.
We will vigorously boost domestic consumption and demand, make sure our foreign trade and inbound investment grow steadily and foster new quality productive forces, so as to effectively pursue higher-quality economic growth and appropriately increase economic output. We will expand high-standard opening-up and foster a market-oriented and law-based business environment up to international standards.
We will stay the course of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and break new ground in advancing major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
All in all, these endeavours will contribute to the building of a great country and to rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Fellow compatriots,
Dear friends,
In recent months, with joint efforts of both sides, there has been new progress in China-UK relations. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a successful meeting in Brazil, pointing the way forward for the development of bilateral ties. The 11th Economic and Financial Dialogue was held. Both sides are also exploring the resumption of dialogue and collaboration in multiple fields such as education, science and technology, energy, and addressing climate change, as well as on international and regional issues.
It is hoped that the UK will work in the same direction with China, earnestly follow through on the important common understandings between leaders of the two countries, uphold the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and strive for stable and mutually-beneficial China-UK relations.
Fellow compatriots,
Dear friends,
In the past year, the Chinese community in the UK has shown unity and mutual support, worked hard, followed and supported the development of China, made active contributions to the UK, and played an important role as a bridge in promoting cultural exchanges and people to people friendship between China and the UK. Chinese-funded institutions have taken root in the UK, and injected sustained momentum into the practical cooperation on economy and trade among other areas between China and the UK. Chinese students studying here have held dear to their heart the motherland, studied hard, and made lots of friends. I sincerely congratulate you all on these outstanding achievements.
In the new year, I hope everyone would continue to carry forward the fine traditions of Chinese civilisation, demonstrate the sense of purpose, fortitude, and self-belief of the Chinese people, and continue to work hard and help each other. I also hope everyone will strive to contribute to Chinese modernisation, promote national reunification, advance China-UK cooperation, and present the Chinese culture, and take practical actions to contribute to the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.
The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK will always be your home here and you are all welcome to come and visit. We will do our best to provide better services.
Fellow compatriots,
Dear colleagues,
Dear students,
On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, I wish everyone good health, happiness and all the best in the Year of the Snake!
And let us wish our great motherland success and prosperity.
Thank you.
