On 23 July 2026, the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a reception celebrating the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA). Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang, Acting Defence Attaché Senior Colonel Wang Yaozhong, and Head of Indo-Pacific Policy at the UK Ministry of Defence Amy Senior addressed the reception. UK government officials, ambassadors and defence attachés of various countries, and representatives from other sectors attended the event.

In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng said that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the PLA has travelled an extraordinary path over the past 99 years. It has made indelible contributions to the independence of the nation, the liberation of the people, and the security and development of the country. It has also played an important role in maintaining world peace and stability. In the new era and on the new journey, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the PLA is striving to build a world-class military. It has the confidence and capability to provide greater strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and to contribute more to peace and stability in the world.

Ambassador Zheng noted that, in his speech at a rally marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC on 1 July, President Xi Jinping reviewed how the Party united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups on a glorious journey over the past 105 years, and envisaged the bright prospects for the undertakings of the party and the people. He identified the outstanding qualities and key factors behind the CPC's continued success, and called on the party and the nation to forge ahead with determination and make new historic achievements. The Chinese people have full confidence in writing a new chapter in the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability and achieving the goals of building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation.

He said that, in the face of a changing and turbulent world, China is firmly committed to promoting the shared values of humanity—peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, to championing the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and to upholding the international system with the UN at its center. China stands ready to work with all countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilisation Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Ambassador Zheng stressed that there is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and the political foundation for the establishment and development of China’s diplomatic relations with other countries. The Chinese people and their armed forces firmly oppose all forms of separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence”, and will not tolerate any meddling in China’s internal affairs by external forces under any pretext.

Ambassador Zheng said that China-UK relations go beyond the bilateral scope and have global significance. A few days ago, Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Andy Burnham on his appointment. Earlier today in Manila, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. China and the UK should keep to the direction of building a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, deepen dialogue and exchanges, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, to better serve the interests of the two peoples. He called on the two militaries to enhance dialogue and exchanges and play an active role in promoting the steady development of China-UK relations.

Senior Colonel Wang Yaozhong said in his remarks that the PLA is fully implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and remains firmly committed to the Chinese path of strengthening the military. China continues to enhance the political loyalty of its military, strengthen its military through reform, science and technology and personnel training, run its military in accordance with the law, and enhance the military’s combat preparedness and improve its capability to fight and win, so that its military will provide strong strategic support for safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and contribute to maintaining world peace and stability.

He noted that this year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The Chinese military will carry forward its revolutionary heritage, advance the cause of building a strong military, and continue to expand international exchanges and cooperation and actively participate in global security governance to build a future of enduring peace and shared prosperity.

Several videos were shown at the reception, including Blue Helmets, No Borders: Together for Peace and the video of the 2025 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Guests congratulated the PLA on its 99th anniversary, and spoke highly of China’s achievements in modernising its national defence and armed forces.