On 13 February 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei hosted a Chinese New Year reception at the Embassy. Nearly 500 guests from various sectors attended the event, including representatives from the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students in the UK.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng extended New Year greetings to members of the Chinese community, personnel of Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students in the UK, and to friends from all walks of life who care about and support the development of China–UK relations.
He noted that the outgoing Year of the Snake had been an extraordinary year. In the face of profound and complex changes at home and abroad, the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, rose to challenges and worked hard to achieve new accomplishments on the new journey towards Chinese modernisation. China pressed ahead with innovation-driven and high-quality economic growth, fulfilling its main economic and social development targets for the year. New quality productive forces continued to grow, the green transition advanced steadily, and the clean energy sector flourished. High-standard opening up expanded further, with both foreign trade and trade surplus reaching record highs. The 14th Five-Year Plan concluded successfully, China’s economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, defence capabilities and composite national strength reached new heights. China’s development continued to provide stability, certainty and positive energy to the world. China upheld the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, stood firm on the right side of history, opposed unilateral bullying unequivocally, and firmly safeguarded international fairness and justice. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative, demonstrating the responsibility of a major country. China’s international influence, appeal, and power to shape rose further.
He pointed out that the upcoming Year of the Horse marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. China will build on this momentum and push ahead on all fronts to implement the strategic decisions made by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference, focusing on high-quality development, deepening reform in all respects, expanding high-standard opening up, and striving to open new horizons for Chinese modernisation.
Ambassador Zheng also noted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent historic visit to China, during which President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Starmer reached an important common understanding on developing a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, providing clear direction and strategic guidance for bilateral relations. Government departments, enterprises and institutions of the two sides signed more than 20 cooperation agreements covering a wide range of fields, fully reflecting the depth and breadth of China–UK cooperation. He called on both sides to work in a joint effort to implement the important common understandings reached by their leaders and the outcomes of the visit, with a view to opening new prospects for China–UK relations and cooperation and delivering benefits to the people of both countries and the wider world.
Ambassador Zheng congratulated members of the Chinese community, personnel of Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students in the UK on their achievements over the past year. He encouraged them to redouble their efforts and continue to contribute to Chinese modernisation, promote China’s reunification, spread fine traditional Chinese culture, and advance China–UK friendship and cooperation. The Chinese Embassy in the UK will stay true to people-centred diplomacy, enhance its capacity to serve overseas Chinese, and remain a strong support and warm haven for compatriots in the UK.
Chu Ting Tang, Chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, Fang Wenjian, President of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and Dr Zhong Shaohong, a Chinese student in the UK, spoke on behalf of the guests. They expressed pride in the development achievements of their motherland (or ancestral homeland), appreciation of the positive progress in China–UK relations, and readiness to contribute more to the friendly people-to-people exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
The reception venue was decorated with beautiful lanterns, adding to the festive atmosphere. The Embassy treated the guests to a “New Year’s Eve dinner”, “Spring Festival care packages” and cultural performances. The guests commented on the heartwarming and joyful experience of celebrating the New Year at the Embassy, wished their motherland (or ancestral homeland) continued prosperity and stability, and expressed hopes for closer China–UK exchanges and cooperation that will benefit both peoples and the wider world.
