On 20 February 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the UK business community and delivered a keynote speech. More than 100 British business leaders and representatives of the UK government were present.

Ambassador Zheng extended festive greetings for the Year of the Horse to the guests and thanked the British business community for its active efforts in promoting China-UK cooperation. He noted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to China had achieved fruitful results. 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, pointing the way forward for bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to establish partnerships in such key areas as climate and nature and the services sector, and to launch a joint feasibility study on a trade in services agreement. Government agencies, institutions and businesses from both countries signed more than 20 cooperation agreements, creating new opportunities for collaboration. China has  implemented a unilateral visa-free policy for British citizens travelling to China since 17 February, which will further facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the Year of the Horse coincides with the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. Despite external uncertainties and various risks and challenges, China will stay focused on its goals and unswervingly pursue high-quality development. Efforts will be made to build a strong domestic market, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, expand high-standard opening up, and advance green and low-carbon transition. China’s development will bring new opportunities and broader space for cooperation to countries around the world. China stands ready to work with the UK to implement the important common understandings reached by their leaders, open a new chapter in bilateral ties and cooperation, and deliver greater benefits to both peoples and the wider world. He encouraged the British business community to continue playing an active role and make new contributions to the sustained and steady growth of China-UK relations.

Participants from the UK business community and the UK government spoke highly of the outcomes of Prime Minister Starmer’s visit and the important progress in bilateral relations. They expressed their readiness to seize the opportunities and leverage complementary strengths to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and better achieve the development goals of both countries.