Chinese embassy in UK marks 74 years of PRC

A grand reception was held on Monday evening in London to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Hosted by the Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom, the event welcomed more than 500 guests from Chinese and British political, business and cultural communities.

Yang Xiaoguang, the embassy's charge d'affaires, delivered an opening speech on behalf of Ambassador Zheng Zeguang.

He said the past 74 years were of extraordinary significance for China, which has transformed itself from a poor agricultural country into the world's second-largest economy, elevating its citizens' quality of life in the process.

He highlighted that, despite the global economic downturn, China's economy has been on an upward trajectory since the beginning of 2023, with its GDP growth reaching 6.3 percent year-on-year in the second quarter.

"The fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged," said Yang.

"And our door to the world will open wider," he added.

Yang expressed hope that Sino-British relations would progress on the right course, pointing out that high-level exchanges between China and the UK have gradually resumed, and noting the two countries have consistently shared wide economic interests, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion for two consecutive years.

"China is not a challenge to the UK, let alone a threat. China's development aims to bring the Chinese people a better life. It is not targeted against anyone, nor does it threaten anyone. Instead, it will only bring opportunities for common development to all countries."

Dominic Johnson, the UK's minister of state for business and trade, described China's development during the past few decades as a "miracle", which the UK "should celebrate, be proud of and participate in".

He said engagement with China is crucial when thinking of the Sino-British trading relationship, which "must be developed further".

"And there is no significant issue the world faces, that we face as individuals, that can be solved unless you include China in the frame," he added.

Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, stated that his outlook for China-UK relations remains positive due to their close commercial engagement.

"We have been working on it now for over 70 years. For us, it is just interesting how the content and amounts changed over the years, but (also that) it continues to grow. So, even when we have problems, they do not last for long. They are overcome by the forces of the market, by the forces of economics," said Perry.

The 48 Group Club is a London-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Sino-British trade cooperation. The group is named after a UK trade delegation of 48 businessmen, referred to "icebreakers", who traveled to Beijing to initiate trade ties with China in 1953, long before the two countries permitted the exchange of ambassadors in 1972.

Perry said that from the very beginning of the group's work, China was always viewed as an economic powerhouse, countering the view held by some that China's importance to the UK is minimal. "If it's not currently the world's biggest economy, it's poised to become so in the future," he said.

"(There are) opportunities now for the British to capitalize on the fact that both China and the UK are permanent members of the Security Council, that we both believe in peace and stability, aim to build our economies and improve the lives of our people together."

Jon Frampton, deputy pro-vice-chancellor (China) and director of the China Institute at the University of Birmingham, also said he is optimistic about bilateral relations as the UK is still considered as an attractive destination for higher education in China, and Chinese students are "at the core" to lots of his university's activities.

Frampton added that the institution is developing education programs on the ground in China to capture all aspirations.

David Buckley, chair of governors of the Yehudi Menuhin School, a UK specialist music school that established its first overseas presence in Qingdao, in East China's Shandong province, said huge cooperation opportunities still exist between the two countries, especially in the field of cultural exchanges.

He stated that he hopes that his school can contribute to China-UK relations as music is a common language that can transcend the barriers between cultures.

Wang Beibei, an acclaimed Chinese operatic soprano who has been working and living in the UK for years, said friendly engagement in diverse areas between China and the UK has never been interrupted, while the misunderstanding at the moment is caused by a lack of face-to-face communications during the past three years.

"Exchanges can alleviate bias, and it should be cherished and enhanced in the post-pandemic age after we experienced turbulence," she said.