On 25 September 2026, the Chinese Embassy in the UK hosted a reception in celebration of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang delivered a speech. Baroness Winterton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, delivered remarks on behalf of the UK government. Over 500 guests attended the event, including people from different sectors in the UK, diplomatic envoys of various countries, and representatives of the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students in the UK. The full text of Ambassador Zheng’s speech is as follows:

The Rt Hon Baroness Winterton,

Lords,

MPs,

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Tonight, we are gathered here to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you and my most sincere thanks for your long-standing support for China-UK relations.

Today also happens to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, a festival that symbolises family reunion, happiness and good harvest. With this in mind, I send my best wishes to you and everyone in your family. 

The founding of New China 77 years ago was a major event that fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese nation and profoundly shaped the course of world history. Over the past 77 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people, united as one, have worked diligently and achieved the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. Today, the Chinese people are marching forward on the new journey of Chinese modernisation. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unfolding with irresistible momentum and showing unprecedentedly bright prospects.

Chinese modernisation has brought epoch-making changes to our country and greatly improved our people’s lives. China has grown from a poor agrarian nation into the world’s second-biggest economy, biggest manufacturer, biggest trader in goods, and largest producer and consumer of electricity, with the largest new energy system. In 2025, China’s GDP surpassed 140 trillion yuan, equivalent to the combined economic output of the world’s third- to seventh-largest economies.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Facing a complex and turbulent external environment, China’s economy has continued to make progress, with new drivers, higher quality and better results, demonstrating great resilience and development potential. 

From the “new three” that have seen strong export growth in recent years, i.e. new energy vehicles (NEVs), lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic panels, to the “new new three” of AI products, robots, and innovative drugs that are gaining strong popularity overseas, China’s technological innovation and industrial upgrading are advancing rapidly and becoming tangible new drivers of growth. China has been leading the world in PCT applications for seven years. New technologies, new industries and new business formats continue to emerge.

The modernisation of our national defence and armed forces is also making significant progress. China is now better able than ever to defend its national security and contribute to world peace.

Environmental protection has made remarkable progress. People enjoy bluer skies, greener mountains and cleaner waters. People are living longer and healthier lives, with average life expectancy exceeding 79 years in 2025, up from 35 years in 1949. The Chinese people have a much stronger sense of happiness, fulfilment and security.

Chinese modernisation has provided a strong boost to the global economy. China is committed to expanding high-standard opening up and sharing development opportunities with countries around the world. For many years now, China’s annual contribution to global economic growth has averaged around 30%, reaching 35.5% in 2025. 

China is the world’s second-largest consumer market and import market, the biggest online retail market, a major export destination for nearly 80 countries, and a major trading partner for over 160 countries and regions. Chinese products, technologies and investment have helped many countries, especially the Global South, accelerate economic development, green transition, improvements in livelihoods and modernisation.

Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek, Doubao AI and Kimi are bringing down the technological barriers and cost of AI application around the world.

However the external environment may change, China will not waver in its commitment to opening up. We will firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization.

Chinese modernisation has continued to inject stability and positive energy into a turbulent world. China has all along followed an independent foreign policy of peace. We have always been ready to develop friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

China is now the second-largest contributor to the UN’s regular budget and its peacekeeping operations budget. Among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, we have contributed the largest number of peacekeepers overseas. China has always taken an objective and impartial position and advocated peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue and consultation.

Against the backdrop of accelerating global transformation unseen in a century, China will continue to stand on the right side of history, and champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. We stand 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, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Chinese modernisation has continued to open up new prospects for the development of China-UK relations.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the China-UK relationship has come a long way despite twists and turns. It is self-evident that cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both countries and is conducive to world peace, stability and development.

With joint efforts from both sides, new positive progress has been made in China-UK relations since the beginning of this year. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Andy Burnham had a very positive telephone conversation. The two leaders reached important common understandings on staying committed to building a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, including through strengthening high-level interactions and cooperation and collaboration across different areas. 

The Chinese side is ready to work closely with the UK side to follow through on the common understandings reached by our leaders and promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-UK relations.

We should enhance mutual respect and mutual trust. Despite our different national conditions, we must always bear in mind that our common interests far outweigh our differences. We should focus on expanding our common interests and properly handle differences and sensitive issues through dialogue and consultation, so as to avoid disrupting the broader interests of our collaboration.

We should expand practical cooperation. There is great potential for China and the UK to work together in trade and investment, financial services, sci-tech innovation, artificial intelligence, bioscience, new energy, law enforcement, climate change and public health. More dialogue and cooperation will deliver more tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

We should strengthen communication and mutual learning. As two countries with long histories and great cultural heritage, we should deepen mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples through exchanges in education, culture, sports and tourism. Earlier this year, China started implementing a unilateral visa-free policy for UK citizens. I am glad to see many people have already benefited from this policy and hope to see more friends do the same. 

We should strengthen multilateral collaboration. As two permanent members of the Security Council and major economies, China and the UK shoulder special responsibilities for safeguarding world peace and development. Under the current international circumstances, it is all the more important for us to work closely together to uphold multilateralism, defend the UN-centred international system and the post-war international order, and enhance multilateral coordination and collaboration. By doing so, we can make greater contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The development of China-UK relations won’t be possible without the support and contribution of people from various sectors in both countries. We at the Embassy will continue to count on your support and assistance in this common cause, for the benefit of the people in our two countries and beyond. 

With that, may I invite you to join me in a toast:

To the 77 years of the People’s Republic of China,

To the development and prosperity of both China and the UK, and

To the good health of you all.

Cheers!

Thank you!