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politics first | Special Section: Chinese Ambassador
September / October 2016 | www.politicsfirst.org.uk
China-UK relations:
the future is purchased by the present
His Excellency Ambassador Liu Xiaoming,
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Court of St James’s
Samuel Johnson once said: “The future is
purchased by the present.” Today’s China-
UK relations are the result of decades long
and concerted efforts of both countries,
while the future of our bilateral relations
depends on how we choose today – we
need to work hard together today to
purchase a better future.
The year 2017 will mark the 45th
anniversary of the establishment of
ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations
between China and the UK. Thanks to our
unremitting efforts over the past 45 years,
China-UK relations have witnessed a
leapfrog development.
Firstly, China-UK political ties have
moved to a higher level. With the handover
of Hong Kong, we resolved an important
historical issue. Hong Kong became a
special administrative region of China.
We established a comprehensive strategic
China-UK partnership and a number
of high-level dialogue mechanisms,
including the annual Prime Ministers’
Meeting, the Economic and Financial
Dialogue, the Strategic Dialogue and the
High Level People-to-people Dialogue.
Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping
paid a state visit to the UK, which greatly
promoted bilateral cooperation and
exchanges across the board and unveiled
the “Golden Era” of China-UK relations.
Our two countries also share the
commitment to reforms of the international
economic and financial system. We
have had effective cooperation in global
issues, such as maintaining world peace,
supporting free trade, addressing climate
change, advancing development and
eliminating poverty.
Secondly, China-UK business ties have
grown closer at a faster speed. China is the
UK’s second largest non-European trading
partner. Our bilateral trade grew from $300
million in 1972 to $78.5 billion last year.
Britain is the largest investment destination
for Chinese businesses in Europe. As of
the end of 2015, China’s investment in the
UK, in non-financial sectors, totalled $13.2
billion. Meanwhile, steady progress has
been made in our financial cooperation.
Today, London is the world’s largest RMB
offshore market outside of China.
Thirdly, the cultural ties and people-topeople
exchanges between China and the UK
are growing with a strong momentum. Every
year, more than one million Chinese and
British people travel back and forth between
our two countries. The UK is the number one
destination for Chinese students in Europe.
In comparison to 40 years ago, when only
16 Chinese and 11 British students studied
in each other’s country, today there are more
than 150,000 Chinese students in Britain
and 6,000 British students in China. Our two
countries have also established 55 sistercity
relationships.
Today, the UK is in the post-Brexit period
which is still full of uncertainties. For China-
UK relations, now is a time of new challenges
and opportunities. At this critical historical
moment of changes, our strong confidence
in China-UK relations remains unchanged.
The vital interests that bond the two countries
together, and the fundamentals of our bilateral
relations, have remained unchanged.
First of all, the strategic and global nature
of China-UK relations remains unchanged.
Both China and Britain are the world’s major
economies and permanent members of the
UN Security Council. We have had good
cooperation at global forums, such as the
Security Council and G20, and on many
international issues, from climate change to
free trade. The global significance of a sound,
stable and win-win partnership between China
and the UK goes beyond the bilateral scope.
Such a partnership serves not only the people
of our two countries but also world peace,
stability and prosperity.
Second, our common desire for
continued cooperation and win-win results
remains unchanged. The UK has strong
high-tech and financial sectors and has
an edge in brand promotion and creative
industry. China has a big labour force
and market, and the size of its economy
comes with a strong financing capability.
As the second and fifth largest economies,
respectively, China and the UK have much
to offer to each other and huge potential for
further cooperation. There is every reason
for our two countries to engage in closer
cooperation and become win-win partners.
Third, our shared desire for deeper mutual
understanding and trust remains unchanged.
From my direct experience, I see how the
British public has great enthusiasm to learn
more about China. During President Xi
Jinping’s state visit to the UK last year, the
British public showed great interest in China.
Events during the Chinese culture season
of the China-UK Year of Culture Exchange
attracted tens of thousands of British people.
The Confucius institutes and classrooms in
Britain are direct outcomes of great enthusiasm
in Chinese language learning. This year marks
the 400th anniversary of the passing of Tang
Xianzu and William Shakespeare, two literary
giants of China and Britain. There have been
a series of co-hosted commemorations that
helped enhance mutual understanding and
friendship between the Chinese and British
people.
Fourth, China’s commitment to stronger
China-UK relations remains unchanged.
Despite uncertainties after the Brexit
referendum, the Chinese government and
business sector have cast the “vote of
confidence”.
On 8th June, two weeks before the
referendum, China’s Ministry of Finance
issued a three billion three-year RMB bond
in London. That was the first RMB sovereign
bond issued outside of China. After Britain
voted to leave the EU, Chinese leaders, on
many occasions, reiterated the position that
China wants to see a stable and prosperous
Britain and will work with the British side for
closer bilateral ties and greater benefits for our
two peoples.
On 25th June, just two days after the
referendum, a Chinese company made a new
move. Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of China’s
Hainan Airlines Group, opened a direct flight
route connecting Tianjin, Chongqing and
London. On 28th June, Huawei UK went ahead
with its £1.3 billion investment, as planned.
We hope that the changes within
British politics will not compromise the UK
government’s consensus and commitment
to working with China for a sound China-
UK relationship. We hope that, regardless
of any foreign policy adjustments in the UK,
advancing ties with China will always be a
priority in Britain’s external relations.
This year’s G20 Summit will be held in
China’s Hangzhou, this September. I hope
that China and the UK will seize that important
opportunity to work together with other member
states for the strong, sustainable and balanced
growth of the world economy, to advance an
innovation and reform-led world economy,
to improve global economic governance
and to establish a fair, just, inclusive and
orderly international financial system. Prime
Minister Theresa May will go to China to
attend the summit. President Xi Jinping will
hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister
May during the Summit. That will be the
first meeting between the leaders of our two
countries since the new British government
was formed. It is of great importance for the
development of our bilateral relations. I am
convinced that the meeting will set new goals,
map out a new blueprint and introduce new
dynamism to China-UK relations.
Looking back at the past, over four
decades of China-UK relations, we have
learnt this: for China-UK ties to grow and
sustain, it is important that we respect each
other, treat each other as equals and take
into account each other’s core interests
and major concerns. Looking to the future,
we need to stick to that important principle,
cherish what has been achieved through
hard efforts, and seize today’s opportunity
and work for a future of lasting, stable and
sound China-UK relations.
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