On 5 February, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei attended the 2026 Chinese New Year Gala hosted by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in the UK (CSSAUK). Over 1,000 guests, including Chinese students and scholars and representatives from British universities and educational institutions, were also present.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng extended Spring Festival greetings to Chinese students in the UK and to people from various sectors who have long followed and supported China–UK educational cooperation. He noted that over the past year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China successfully fulfilled its major economic and social development goals, bringing its 14th Five-Year Plan to a successful conclusion.
He pointed out that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. China will follow the strategic arrangements made by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, steadfastly pursue high-quality development, deepen reform in all respects, expand high-standard opening up, and move steadily towards its established development goals. China’s development will bring greater well-being and a stronger sense of fulfilment to the Chinese people, while creating more opportunities for countries around the world.
Ambassador Zheng noted Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent official visit to China. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Starmer reached important common understandings on developing a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, setting the right direction for bilateral relations. Government departments and enterprises of the two countries signed more than 20 cooperation agreements covering a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, financial services, agriculture and food, culture and the creative industries, education, sports, law enforcement and climate change. China stands ready to work with the UK in a joint effort to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders and other outcomes of the visit, for the benefit of both peoples and the wider world.
He stressed that educational cooperation is an important component of China–UK relations. There are about 200,000 Chinese students studying in the UK. Since the launch of the Young Envoys Scholarship Programme in the UK last year, thousands of young Britons have travelled to China for exchanges and study. He called on more British schools to conduct exchanges and cooperation with their Chinese counterparts, and welcomed more British students to study in or visit China, so that young people from both countries can learn from each other, enhance mutual understanding and foster friendship.
Ambassador Zheng encouraged Chinese students in the UK to remain true to their original aspiration of serving the country through studying abroad, to be contributors to Chinese modernisation, ambassadors of Chinese culture, and promoters of China–UK friendship, to demonstrate the aspiration, confidence and integrity of Chinese youth in the new era, and to grow into pillars of the nation.
Dr Michael Spence, President and Provost of University College London, Sergei Guriev, Dean of London Business School, and Zhong Shaohong, CSSAUK President, also delivered remarks.
The gala, themed “Riding the Momentum into a New Journey”, featured performances jointly presented by Chinese and British students, including singing, dancing and comic sketches. With a creative blend of art and technology, the performances showcased the vibrant spirit of Chinese students overseas and the unique charm of Chinese and Western cultural exchange, winning warm applause from the audience.
