On 6 February 2026, the 48 Group, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) jointly hosted the “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner 2026 in London. Over 500 people from various sectors in China and the UK attended the event. He Lifeng, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, sent a congratulatory message to the event. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended the event and read out Vice Premier He’s congratulatory message. The full text of Ambassador Zheng’s speech is as follows:
Chairman Jack Perry,
Sir Sebastian Wood,
Chairman Fang Wenjian,
Mr Stephen Perry,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to attend the “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner 2026. Thank you to the 48 Group, CBBC and CCCUK for the kind invitation.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend warm greetings and best wishes for the Chinese New Year to you all.
Now, it is my great honour to read out a congratulatory message for tonight’s event from His Excellency He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. The full text is as follows:
“On the occasion of the Chinese New Year of the Horse, I am entrusted by Premier Li Qiang to extend, on behalf of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, hearty congratulations on the “Icebreakers” Chinese New Year Dinner 2026, and sincere festive greetings to all distinguished guests, representatives of the Chinese and British business communities, and friends from all sectors.
More than 70 years ago, British entrepreneurs led by Mr Jack Perry overcame various obstacles and broke the ice of a Western trade embargo on China, thus starting the earliest trade dialogue between New China and the United Kingdom. Over the past seven decades, generations of “icebreakers” guided by vision and a sense of responsibility have actively promoted China–UK economic and trade cooperation, built bridges for bilateral exchanges, and become an important force driving the development of China–UK relations and friendship.
In a world marked by changes and instability, a stable and constructive relationship between China and the UK, two major economies with significant global influence, has become increasingly important for both countries and for the world at large. Not long ago, Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid an official visit to China. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Starmer reached important consensus on developing a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK, opening up new prospects for bilateral relations and cooperation.
In 2026, China will begin implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan, with a continued commitment to developing a robust domestic market and further expanding high-standard opening up. This will create vast new opportunities for China–UK cooperation. China stands ready to work with the UK to implement the important common understandings reached by our leaders, uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and deepen practical cooperation across all fields.
I hope that people from all sectors in both countries will continue to carry forward the “icebreaking” spirit, serve as envoys of China–UK friendship and promoters of mutually beneficial cooperation, and work together to open up broader horizons for cooperation in trade and investment, green transition, financial services, scientific and technological innovation, and third-party markets, in order to turn the vast potential of China–UK cooperation into real progress and make new and greater contributions to the sustained and steady development of China–UK relations.
I wish you all a happy Spring Festival, good health and every success in your endeavours.
He Lifeng
Vice Premier of the State Council
The People’s Republic of China
Beijing, 6 February”
Ladies and gentlemen,
Vice Premier He’s encouraging message is a call to action for all of us who have been participating in exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK. Let us answer Vice Premier He’s call and redouble our efforts.
In the outgoing Year of the Snake, China has fulfilled its major economic and social development goals, bringing the 14th Five-Year Plan to a successful conclusion.
China’s GDP grew by 5% last year. Cutting-edge technological breakthroughs emerged in succession. New quality productive forces continued to advance. Green transition accelerated. Our market has further opened up.
In the upcoming Year of the Horse, China will kick-start the 15th Five-Year Plan.
The Central Economic Work Conference held last December laid out a comprehensive agenda and identified priorities for the year ahead. The specific development targets will be set at the Two Sessions in March.
In my view, the following policy highlights merit special attention of the British business community:
First, on domestic demand, we will boost consumption, and increase the income of urban and rural residents. Supply of quality goods and services will also be expanded.
Second, on innovation-driven development, we will advance education, technology and talent, and develop international tech-innovation centres in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
We will also do more to promote new technologies including AI, quantum computing, and 6G mobile communications and nurture future industries.
Third, on reform, we will develop a regulation on building a unified national market and intensify efforts to address involution.
Fourth, on opening up, we will steadily advance institutional opening up, and expand self-initiated opening up in the services sector. This is especially good news for the UK because it has a competitive edge in this area.
The world may be full of uncertainties and all sorts of risks and challenges, but China will implement the strategic decisions made by the Central Economic Work Conference, stay the course of high-quality development, and deliver the targets we have set.
China’s development will continue to increase the sense of happiness and gain to the Chinese people, bring new opportunities for different countries and inject stability, certainty and positive energy to the world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer just paid a historic visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Starmer. Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress held talks with and met Prime Minister Starmer respectively.
The high-level engagement between leaders of our two countries has yielded important common understandings and produced fruitful outcomes. Here are some of the highlights:
First, it has charted a new course for China-UK relations. Leaders of our two countries agreed that both sides should work together to develop a long-term, consistent, and comprehensive strategic partnership.
With concerted efforts, we will be able to bring this bilateral relationship onto a sound and steady development path.
Second, it has opened up new opportunities for cooperation. The two sides agreed to establish a high-level China-UK climate and nature partnership, and resume the high-level China-UK security dialogue, focusing on law enforcement. The two sides signed MOUs on establishment of a bilateral services partnership and joint feasibility study for a China-UK trade in services agreement. Both sides will also hold a new round of institutional dialogues within this year, including the Strategic Dialogue, the Economic and Financial Dialogue, and the JETCO meeting.
All these steps will lead to more mutually beneficial cooperation and closer coordination between our two sides in many fields.
Third, it has delivered more tangible economic benefits. China agreed to cut tariffs on UK whisky from 10% to 5%, and we have followed through on that. AstraZeneca, HSBC, Octopus, Brompton and other UK companies have announced intentions to make new investment in China. On the Chinese side, Chery Commercial Vehicle, HiTHIUM, Pop Mart and many other companies have announced plans to increase operation and investment in the UK. Some companies have signed deals.
Government departments and enterprises of the two countries have signed more than 20 cooperation agreements covering trade and investment, financial services, agriculture and food, market regulation, public health, climate change and other areas. With these agreements, will certainly come more benefits for the two sides.
Fourth, it has enhanced mutual understanding between the two peoples. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for leaders of our two countries to discuss their respective domestic priorities and the current international situation. Their engagement attracted a lot of media coverage in both countries. Thanks to that, the British people now have learned more about China, especially Beijing and Shanghai, which the Prime Minister visited. The Chinese people also know more about the UK, about its policies and its intention to have closer cooperation with China.
China has announced that it will provide visa free access for British nationals, details to be announced. I am sure this will lead to more people to people exchanges and more cooperation on education, culture, tourism and sports.
President Xi Jinping noted in his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer that one should always take a long-term view. He also emphasised the need to see history from a broader perspective, rise above differences, and respect each other. By doing so, both sides will be able to deliver a bilateral relationship that stands the test of history.
Of course, there are always nay-sayers and disruptors in certain corners. But they belong to a very small minority. They could be noisy, but they can never turn back the wheel of history.
The Chinese side is ready to work with the UK side in the same direction, follow through on the important common understandings reached between our leaders, and open up new prospects for China-UK relations and cooperation, for the good of both peoples and the whole world.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The business communities of our two countries have always been the most reliable force for the development of China-UK relations. Our bilateral ties have continued to move forward despite challenges and difficulties because of your invaluable contribution and long-standing efforts.
At this critical juncture in the world and in China-UK relations, let us join hands, stay confident, seize opportunities, create new highlights of China-UK cooperation, and bring more benefits to people of both countries.
In the Chinese culture, the horse symbolises courage, resilience, perseverance and creativity. With the Year of the Horse just around the corner, I wish you all good health, happiness, and every success in the year ahead.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Thank you!
