On 21 September 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended a celebration hosted by the Chinese community in the UK to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The event was attended by over 500 people from various sectors, including Wu Lili, Chair of the Organising Committee, Chu Ting Tang, Chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and the leaders of nearly 100 Chinese community organisations in the UK.

In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng extended festive greetings and best wishes to all overseas Chinese in the UK. He noted that over the 77 years since the founding of the People’s Republic, the Communist Party of China has united and led people of all ethnic groups across the country in forging ahead with resolve and perseverance. In just a few decades, China has completed an industrialisation process that took developed countries centuries to achieve, creating the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. Since entering the new era, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China’s economic, technological, national defence and overall national strength have reached new heights, and the prospects for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are brighter than ever. This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Despite a fluid and turbulent external environment, China’s economy continues to grow through innovation-driven and high-quality development, demonstrating tremendous resilience and growth potential. The steady advancement of Chinese modernisation is providing stability and positive energy to a volatile world.

Ambassador Zheng pointed out that in the face of accelerating global changes unseen in a century, China stands firmly on the right side of history. It upholds humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and works with all countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, in a bid to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The two leaders reached an important common understanding on developing the long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK and advancing high-level exchanges and cooperation across various fields. China will work with the UK to follow through on the important common understanding reached by the two leaders and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-UK relations.

Ambassador Zheng said that over the years, overseas Chinese in the UK have stood in solidarity, supported one another and worked hard. They have played an important role in the UK’s economic and social development, actively supported China’s modernisation, and made significant contributions to promoting friendship between the Chinese and British peoples. He expressed hope that overseas Chinese would carry on their fine traditions, maintain a deep connection with their homeland, make better use of their strengths, and continue to contribute to Chinese modernisation, promote national reunification, share Chinese culture with the world, and advance friendship between the Chinese and British peoples. He encouraged them to make new contributions to building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation, and to promoting the sustained and steady development of China-UK relations.

In their remarks, Wu Lili and other community leaders said that the prosperity and development of the motherland is the strongest foundation for overseas Chinese in the UK. Based in the UK while always keeping their motherland in mind, the Chinese community in the UK will continue to serve as a bridge for enhancing people-to-people tiess and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the UK.

The celebration was held in a lively and joyful atmosphere. Chinese and British artists gave brilliant performances, including “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” and “My Motherland and I”. Overseas Chinese expressed their wishes for China’s prosperity and stability and for lasting and ever-growing friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.