Can you tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments during your time as ambassador to the UK?

I served as the Chinese ambassador to the UK for 11 years, the longest-serving one in the history of China-UK relations and in China as well. The most enjoyable moments, over that period of time, were those I shared with Chinese and British friends in promoting friendship and cooperation. Those have become my precious and fond memories. And the most unforgettable of all was the Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square. I went to the event for 10 consecutive years to join the British people in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square is a leading multi-cultural event in London, and the biggest Spring Festival celebration outside Asia, attracting around 700,000 people every year. The celebration is impressive because it transcends national boundaries and cultural differences. It presents not only traditional Chinese cultural performances such as Chinese songs and dances, painting and calligraphy, dragon and lion dance, but also Western opera and musical performances. It is a platform for both Chinese and Western cultures and a nurturing ground for China-UK friendship, enriching our people-to-people ties. That is why it enjoys support from the royal family and the British government, receiving congratulatory messages from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and British Prime Minister. In addition, Downing Street No.10 has held Chinese New Year receptions for a couple of years. My wife and I have been invited to attend, joining the local Chinese communities to celebrate the New Year.

I am glad to see that this year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, there were still lion dances in Trafalgar Square in celebration of the Year of the Tiger, which attracted a lot of passers-by to watch. Indeed, just as my British friends often say, “the show must go on!”

What do you think were the biggest ambassadorial successes during your time as ambassador to the UK?

What has made me most proud is the “ice-breaking spirit” in the China-UK relationship, which has led the way for China’s relations with the Western world. Of the major western countries, Britain was the first to apply for the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) membership and inject capital into its special fund; the first to issue RMB bonds and appoint a special envoy for the Belt and Road cooperation and the first to sign the Guiding Principles on Financing the Belt and Road Initiative.

On China’s part, we established a comprehensive strategic partnership with the UK earlier than other European countries; we chose London to issue the first RMB sovereign bonds and central bank bills overseas, in support of London to become the world’s biggest offshore RMB trading centre. China’s investment in the UK surpassed that in most other European countries. These “firsts” epitomized the China-UK relationship leading the way for China’s relations with Western countries. They were important milestones that I witnessed as ambassador to the UK.

What were the most significant diplomatic moments between the two countries during your time as ambassador to the UK?

President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the UK in 2015 ushered in the “Golden Era” of China-UK relations. This is undoubtedly the most important and far-reaching moment, the very highlight, of bilateral relations in recent years.
That was indeed a “super” state visit. Britain greeted President Xi with exceptional protocol: at Tower Bridge and Green Park, a 103-gun salute was fired, the highest British royal salute; Queen Elizabeth II held a grand welcoming ceremony for President Xi and hosted two banquets for President Xi and Madame Peng, with most of the royal family in attendance. After the state events, Prime Minister Cameron invited President Xi and Madame Peng to Chequers, and accompanied them on a visit to Manchester.

That visit has lifted the bilateral relationship to a “global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century”, and produced nearly 150 deliverables, including the launch of the Shanghai-London Stock Connect. It consolidated the China-UK friendship and opened up broader prospects for bilateral relations. Despite some twists and turns in the following years, cooperation remains in the fundamental interest of both countries as it benefits both sides. I am confident that with the concerted efforts of our two countries and peoples, China-UK relations have a brighter future and will regain its full vigour.

How have ambassadorial relations evolved since your time as ambassador to the UK?

During my 11 years as China’s ambassador to the UK, I had the honour of working with four British prime ministers and six foreign ministers and staying in touch with key members of the royal family. During that period, the China-UK high-level dialogue mechanisms grew more expansive, the global significance of China-UK relations more prominent, and the friendship between the two countries closer.

First, the leaders of the two countries kept regular communications and interactions. China and the UK held five prime ministerial meetings, five strategic dialogues and eight economic and financial dialogues. A high-level people-to-people and cultural exchange mechanism, as well as a high-level security dialogue, were launched.

Second, the two countries enhanced coordination under the UN, the G20 and other international frameworks. We were more united in supporting multilateralism and free trade, opposing unilateralism and protectionism, and jointly addressing global challenges like climate change. The two countries also stayed in communication and coordination on international and regional hot spots.

Third, the two countries deepened mutual understanding and people’s support for bilateral relations. Over the past 11 years, the number of annual visits between China and the UK has doubled to 2 million. The number of Chinese students in the UK increased more than onefold to 220,000. Britain has become the country of choice for Chinese students seeking to study abroad. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation in culture, science, technology and innovation have yielded fruitful results. Britain was the first country to sign the Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Strategy with China. In the face of Covid-19, the two peoples rendered each other support and stood together in solidarity.

Nonetheless, given our differences in political system, stage of development, history and culture, China and the UK take different views on some issues and bilateral relations are not always plain sailing. But as two major countries with global influence, China and the UK shoulder an important responsibility to uphold world peace and development. China-UK relations must stay on the track of cooperation. I believe when the two countries look at the overall picture, meet the trend of the times, enhance communication and cooperation in a spirit of mutual respect and equality, China-UK relations will transcend the differences and enjoy sound and stable development.

Liu Xiaoming attends the Chinese New Year Reception at No. 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Picture by Andrew Parsons / No. 10 Downing Street)

What were some of the biggest obstacles you overcame during your time as ambassador to the UK?

Among the major Western countries, Britain was the first to recognize the People’s Republic and among the first to develop trade relations with us. As we speak, exchanges between the two countries are multi-faceted and involve all fields, with a breadth and depth unseen in the past. Nevertheless, a “deficit” of mutual understanding and mutual perception still exists. That was the biggest obstacle I tried to overcome during my tenure. I once said that Britain is like a good read, and so is China. Unfortunately, in Britain, some people only look at the book cover or listen to some kind of irresponsible “book review”, and they think they have known the real China. During my time as ambassador, I did my level best to present to the British society a true China that has friendship and opportunities to offer.

To that end, I visited around the UK, from the northernmost Yell in the Shetland Islands to the Channel Islands in the South, from England to Scotland, from Northern Ireland to Wales, and from royal dependencies to overseas territories. I developed extensive contacts with Britons of all social sectors to promote China-UK mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields. I gave over 700 speeches, published over 170 articles in mainstream newspapers and gave 170 plus interviews to mainstream media. It is also my hope that the CBBC will continue to serve as a bridge that helps the two countries overcome the “deficit” in mutual understanding and perception.

How do you think CBBC helped UK-China business relations during your time as ambassador to the UK?

China-UK trade relations wouldn’t have come thus far without the hard work of the business communities in both countries and the CBBC as well. During my time as the Chinese ambassador, I have seen the Council, under the leadership of Sir David Brewer, Lord Sassoon and then Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, connecting the businesses of China and the UK and offering good suggestions for practical cooperation. The CBBC has done a lot to let people know the benefits of China-UK trade relations and encourage all sectors of the British society to view China’s development in a fair and comprehensive way. You have played a big role in promoting a right perception of China and Britain’s cooperation with China.
More specifically, the CBBC has:

First, tapped into its influence and spoken up multiple times for the British government to extend friendship, stabilize businesses’ confidence in China-UK cooperation, deepen mutual trust and keep such cooperation intact;
Second, published two issues of the UK Jobs Dependence on Links to China, a research endeavor to reveal the win-win nature of China-UK cooperation and its importance to the British economy, calling for a rational approach to China;
Third, organized high-profile seminars to guide the public opinion, creating platforms for sound interactions between the two countries and contributing to bilateral cooperation and mutual trust;
Fourth, coordinated Chinese and British companies and financial institutions to extend Covid-control supplies to each other, bringing the two countries closer in this trying time.

In sum, the CBBC not only gave me strong support and enormous help when I served as ambassador but more importantly, did great service to the mutual trust, strategic consensus and shared interests between our two countries.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming with CBBC leaders

What do you think have been the biggest achievements in trade and investment between the two countries?

During my 11 years in the UK, the two countries came a long way in trade and investment, major projects, financial and the Belt and Road cooperation.

From 2009 to 2020, trade in goods between China and the UK increased from US$39.2 billion to US$92.4 billion, and British exports to China grew by nearly 20 times. By the end of January 2021, when I left the UK, its direct investment in China reached US$26.42 billion, while China’s direct investment in the UK amounted to US$18.11 billion, about 17 times higher than the US$1.02 billion at the end of 2009. Britain has become China’s second-largest investment destination in Europe. The Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, China’s single biggest investment endeavour in Europe, stands as a flagship of China-UK cooperation.

Over the past 11 years, the number of Chinese banks with UK branches has risen to eight. The Shanghai-London Stock Connect was officially launched, and more Chinese enterprises went public at the London Stock Exchange, enabling the very first links between Chinese and foreign capital markets. London has become the world’s largest offshore RMB trading centre and the second-largest offshore RMB clearing centre. China and Britain signed an agreement to extend their Belt and Road cooperation to third markets, spanning the sectors of financing, professional expertise and service.
The mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries: Chinese enterprises built in the UK the then-largest battery energy storage project in Europe; Chinese-invested electric and low emission taxis run in the streets of London; British foods and drinks are on the kitchen table in Chinese households, thanks to the China International Import Expo. Chinese investment has contributed considerably to the tax revenues and job creation in the UK while giving impetus for British companies and industries to transform, upgrade and move toward higher-quality development.

In sum, I believe that China-UK economic and trade ties have vast potential and enormous prospects. The next 50 years will see an even more brilliant chapter of China-UK cooperation.

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Can you tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments during your time as ambassador to the UK?

During my term, I took every opportunity to explore cities and places of interest, and made many friends, from colleagues in the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other government departments, to people from all walks of life. I enjoyed my life in Britain so much that even before my return to China in January 2010, I confessed at my farewell reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel that I was already missing this country.

My time in the UK had many enjoyable moments. I have been fond of British literature since I was a student of the English language. I was curious about the background of those fascinating stories and the changing times portrayed in the novels. One of my hobbies in the UK was seeking out where those literary masters grew up, their residences and the surroundings. Such trips took most of my spare time. I visited Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s hometown, Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum, and the poet William Wordsworth’s residence in the Lake District, to name a few. I was disappointed that Thomas Hardy’s Cottage was under renovation when I finally found the place on a Sunday afternoon. But I walked around the place, trying to picture in my mind how the scenes Hardy depicted in his stories may have looked like at that time.

In 2007, I came upon the Jane Austen Museum in Winchester during a trip. Walking through the corridors, I tried to feel the atmosphere in the rooms where she and her sisters spent their lives. There were laminated pamphlets placed in every room for the visitors to read as guides. My driver, Mr. Wei, did not know English, so I acted as translator for him. The curator of the private museum noticed us. As we were leaving, he approached me and said, “I am wondering if it is possible for you to help us translate these pamphlets into Chinese?” He noticed that I was interpreting for Wei. He explained that the Museum has started receiving Chinese visitors, and he would like to provide them with better service. I accepted the request, brought those pamphlets back, had them translated and then mailed back. Now, there are more and more Chinese visitors going there out of admiration for Jane Austen. Obviously, the curator had a good sense of what was to come.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than one million Chinese tourists visited the UK in the year 2019 alone, five times more than the number in 2009. In the academic year 2018-2019, there were 120,000 Chinese students studying in the UK. In 2020, among the Chinese youngsters who sought overseas education, 42% went to the UK, which surpassed the US to become the top destination for overseas Chinese students. 

What were the biggest ambassadorial successes during your time as ambassador to the UK?

The UK was my third ambassadorial post. Prior to the UK, I served as the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines and Australia. The term of Chinese diplomats stationed abroad is usually three to four years. Apart from loads of routine affairs to handle, I would try to identify the focus of my endeavours during my term in order to add my contributions to bilateral relations in the limited time of my term. To achieve this, I needed to find the right target and make proper planning.

Before assuming an ambassadorial post, a must-do for me was to research the host country. I would read a few books to learn about the history and unique aspects of the country and talk with my predecessors to learn more about the relationship. I would also meet Chinese government officials in various areas and learn about their expectations for China-UK ties. All this was an important first step but it was never enough. After arriving at my post, I would spend the first three months trying to find the focus by reaching out to different communities and visiting cities, companies, and cultural and educational institutions. These visits would give me lots of food for thought as I reflected on where I should focus my efforts during my term as the Ambassador.

When I arrived in London to take up my office in April 2007, it was one year away from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and preparations for this greatest sporting event had been well underway. The Chinese people were very enthusiastic about hosting the Olympics. They wanted to open their arms to welcome the world’s participation and support. However, in London, I could sense some negative sentiments from the British media and in the general discourse about China. China was portrayed in the media with biased tones and poorly researched facts. 

Indeed, as a developing country, China was far from perfect and was confronted with difficulties in its economic and social development. But much of those negative views propagated under the spotlight were not even close to capturing the real challenges we were addressing. Sometimes the views about China were irrational, if not downright paranoid. I could see that such misrepresentation of China was drawing a backlash against British arrogance among the people in China. While one of the reasons behind such media negativity about China could be traced back to historical misperceptions, the ineffective channels of communications was also to blame as firsthand information about China was hard to come by in the British society.

The world around us has been witnessing rising turmoil and uncertainties. However, there is no reason to be pessimistic about the future of China-UK relations, as the foundation of our cooperation remains solid

Acknowledging that mutual objective knowledge and friendly feelings among the two peoples provides a solid foundation for developing sound economic and trade relations as well as people-to-people exchanges between our countries, I decided to take media communications as my main area of focus in the UK. With this in mind, I first learned about the British media by reading about its history, visiting some news outlets and talking with the editors. Having laid the groundwork, I started to take interviews and contribute articles to British media. 

For me, this was immensely challenging, as it not only required good knowledge of my own country, its policies, progress and difficulties, but also a good grasp of the British people’s perception and interests about China, and most of all, a capacity to craft and present China’s perspectives and messages in a positive and convincing way to a Western audience. I needed training on dealing with the media to equip myself for tough interviews. 

These efforts paid off. When issues about China were drawing international attention, or even became hotly debated by the media, the ability of the Chinese Embassy to promptly provide firsthand information and authoritative views would go a long way to building up China’s international image. The more the outside world knows about China, the easier it is for us to communicate with one another.

During my term as Chinese Ambassador to the UK, my colleagues and I made great efforts to promote such communication and exchanges and our work was met with positive responses.

What were the most significant diplomatic moments between the two countries during your time as ambassador to the UK？

The relationship between China and the UK is a comprehensive one, involving dynamic exchanges at all levels and across multiple areas. There was never a lack of highlights or significant moments between our countries. So it would be hard to single out the most important one. One of the moments that left a lasting impression on me was the overwhelming support China received after the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck Wenchuan in Sichuan Province, on 12 May 2008. 

The earthquake caused terrible human casualties and property damages. China was fully mobilised. From the government to the military, from businesses to the general public, everyone joined the rescue and relief effort under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. People pitched in from all over the country in an all-out effort to save lives. The unity and heroism demonstrated by the Chinese nation in the face of adversity touched the hearts of many.

In an information era, the disaster relief operation in Wenchuan was carried out with the whole world looking on. The international community not only learned about the scale of the disaster in real-time but also shared the deep sorrows of the Chinese people and marvelled at their bravery and perseverance. The people of the UK showed deep sympathy and support to us. In London, my Embassy was flooded by offerings of support and donations from British society, including large donations given by leading companies and contributions from the general public. Children from kindergartens led by their teachers came to the Embassy and put coins from their small hands on the table. A group of 13 policemen raised donations by biking 114 miles from Birmingham to London. A 19-year-old boy called Isaac Louis walked from 240 miles from Wales collecting donations all the way, and sent the money to the Embassy.

On the afternoon of 20 May 2008, a memorial service for the victims of the earthquake was held at the Embassy. Mr Gordon Brown, the then British Prime Minister, came in person to offer his condolences and observe a moment of silence together with us. In the condolences book, he wrote, “On behalf of the British people my sincere condolences to the Chinese people who have suffered.” During the service, children of the embassy staff, holding candles in their hands, read aloud a poem with their tender and youthful voices to commemorate the children lost in the earthquake. Many attendees shed tears at this touching sight. At this moment, the hearts of the Chinese and British peoples were beating as one, which was a scene forever imprinted on my mind. The compassion and generosity of the British people boosted my confidence for pressing ahead with China-UK relations. It led me to believe, no matter what difficulties lay ahead, with candour and sincerity, we would always work out a way to deal with challenges while promoting cooperation.

How do you think CBBC helped UK-China business relations during your time as ambassador to the UK?

The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), which enjoys the support of both the British government and the private sector, has served an important role in boosting bilateral trade and economic and technological cooperation. It acts as an indispensable facilitator, participant, and supporter of our economic and trade cooperation throughout the ups and downs of our bilateral ties.

I remember the many workshops, visits and events the CBBC organised during my term as the Chinese Ambassador to the UK. These efforts have helped to enhance confidence and trust among the business communities, facilitate exchanges, address difficulties and encourage people-to-people linkages. The CBBC has played an irreplaceable role and made significant contributions to elevating our bilateral relations to a higher level. 

In 2007, the year I took office, trade between our two countries was USD 54.15 billion. In 2021, the figure surpassed USD 110 billion, making China the largest trading partner of the UK in Asia. Cumulative two-way investment reached about USD 50 billion. Booming trade and investment flows have ushered in a golden period of cooperation between our countries.

The world around us has been witnessing rising turmoil and uncertainty. Anti-globalisation and de-globalisation waves are impacting the trend of peace and development that has emerged alongside globalisation. However, there is no reason to be pessimistic about the future of China-UK relations, as the foundation of our cooperation remains solid. There is still great potential and room for expanding our economic and trade relations and multi-dimensional cooperation. What is required of the two sides is to muster the wisdom and courage to come to an objective and rational understanding of each other’s perspectives and positions, to respect the different ways of thinking and achievements which are rooted in their different history and culture, and to protect bilateral cooperation from disruptions as much as possible. During his phone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 25 March, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s candid, open and inclusive approach toward dialogue and cooperation with the UK. He called on the UK to view China and China-UK relations in an objective and impartial light and work with China to keep moving bilateral ties forward.

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For six years, Chris Boobier led the Chevening Programme in China – the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders. Through this, he met hundreds of inspiring industry professionals from every province across the country working to bridge the UK and China, build people-to-people links and build lasting positive relations with the UK.  

‘Trust and understanding’

In 1950, the UK recognised the People’s Republic of China, the first major Western country to do so. Twenty-two years later, on 13 March 1972, the first British Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Sir John Mansfield Addis, met with acting chairman of the PRC, Dong Biwu, to establish full diplomatic ties. This is the anniversary that we celebrate this year. 

The ongoing agreements between high-level leaders and politicians since the raising of diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level have been formative in driving forward collaboration across all areas of society, bringing us closer, and developing trust and understanding on both sides. More than anything, these exchanges and dialogues give people, businesses and organisations confidence and direction. Through the dialogue itself and the actions and commitment that follow, they inspire and embed goodwill.

Since 1972, China has sent 12 Ambassadors to London and the UK has sent 13 Ambassadors to Beijing. Year by year, decade by decade, we have seen trade and tourism grow, dialogue and exchange deepen and intensify. 

In December 1984, Margaret Thatcher travelled to Beijing to meet Deng Xiaoping. Following the signing of the Sino-British Agreement – an agreement ensuring that the sovereignty of Hong Kong would return to China in 1997.

A plaque marking the magnolia tree planted in the grounds of the British Embassy by the queen during her visit to China in 1986

In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, became the first British sovereign to visit China. Photos of the queen standing on the Great Wall alongside the Duke of Edinburgh to this day line the walls and meeting rooms within the British Embassy in Beijing.

During the State Visit of President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan to the UK in 2015, The queen spoke fondly of her previous visit to China and the “warm and longstanding friendship” between the UK and China. The queen talked about the privilege of being able to experience China’s rich history and culture, and of being captivated by the energy, ambition and enthusiasm of the Chinese people. 

These words epitomise the role that diplomacy at the highest possible level plays in forging the strong people to people and business to business relationships that governments seek to build. They will undoubtedly have struck a tone with the Chinese people also. To be able to walk among the only recently excavated and restored Terracotta Warriors is the rarest and most special of privileges. To this day the Warriors act as symbols of trust across borders. 

‘The unsung heroes’

State visits such as these, as well as the vast numbers of high-level dialogues and meetings that have been ever-present throughout the bilateral relationship, are important. But the true and arguably unsung heroes of the strengthening of diplomatic ties between the UK and China are the people and businesses, the students and academics; the artists and sportspersons; the entrepreneurs across China’s provinces, regional Britain and in third-countries.

The true and arguably unsung heroes of the strengthening of diplomatic ties between the UK and China are the people and businesses, the students and academics; the artists and sportspersons…

The commitment between government and business is one that is mutual. They allow for engagement and therefore assurance across all levels, sectors and geographies that ensure our relationship is balanced and diverse. Business delegations on both sides should take great pride in the roles they play in forming and reinforcing both trade and diplomatic relationships, adding great substance and shaping views. 

In the last few years of change, the number of dialogues and bilateral exchanges may have lessened in frequency but not in significance. In November 2021, the UK’s Health Secretary Sajid Javid and China’s Health Minister Ma Xiaowei acknowledged the challenges both sides have faced during Covid-19 and agreed to strengthen exchanges. 

Cooperation continues to occur at the global level. In November 2021, the UK hosted COP26 in Glasgow and earlier in the year China hosted COP15 on biodiversity in Kunming. These platforms allow for differences in worldview to be acknowledged and divergence in opinion to be shared and discussed. Crucially, outcomes of discussions reaffirm that there is more space for agreement than divergence when facing global challenges such as climate change.

‘A legacy of commitment to dialogue’

Every year around this time, a magnolia tree that was planted by Queen Elizabeth in the garden of the Residence of the British Ambassador in Beijing will bloom. A symbol of endurance, hope and love, this acts as a reminder to us all as to the true value of a centuries-long bilateral relationship. 

The 50^th anniversary is an important landmark in our shared history – a history with participation from people encompassing a diverse range of backgrounds, all acting as UK-China ambassadors well-versed in facing complexity and in demonstrating resilience and pragmatism. 

It is this historical legacy of commitment and ongoing drive for dialogue that will continue to inspire goodwill all across society, to seek trust and understanding for the benefit of future generations. Celebration and reflection are therefore, on balance, important for us all. 

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The China-Britain Business Council, in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and the British Chamber of Commerce in China, jointly held a reception for the new British Ambassador to China, Caroline Wilson CMG, on the 19th November in Beijing at Hotel Jen

The welcome reception was attended by senior officials from CBBC, CBI and British Chamber

The welcome reception was hosted by Duncan Clark OBE, Vice-Chair, CBBC

The new British Ambassador to China, Caroline Wilson CMG, delivering her speech at the welcome reception

HMA Caroline Wilson visiting Jacob Well’s booth, accompanied by Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China Operations and Chief China Representative of CBBC

HM Ambassador ended her speech by recognising the CBBC, CBI, the British Chamber, and the businesses in attendance for their warm welcome and impactful role in sustaining the relationship between the UK and China.

HMA Caroline Wilson visiting the Walkers Shortbread booth, accompanied by Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China Operations and Chief China Representative of CBBC

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Thanks to modern technology, we are able to exchange views online, on some very important issues to both our countries in this difficult time. The spread of Covid-19 around the world poses a grave challenge to human society. It seriously threatens the safety and health of the people, strikes a heavy blow to global production and demand, and severely undermines the economy and our societies.

The public health crisis is a major test for all countries of the world. It is leading proof that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and that in this world, we all belong to a community with a shared future.

In the face of this crisis, how is China responding? China is the first country in the world to report the epidemic to the WHO. The first to identify the pathogen of the virus, the first to share the full genetic sequence of the virus with WHO and other countries. The first to adopt comprehensive and effective measures of prevention and control, the first to achieve preliminary but important success in containing the virus. The first to bring economic activities back to normal across the country. In this battle against the virus, China has followed three principles:

Saving lives The People are the focus of all other efforts. President Xi Jinping has reiterated that we should always regard the safety and health of the people as a top priority. Acting responsibly in record time after the outbreak, the Chinese government established an all-dimensional and multilayer network of prevention and control that involved everyone from the central government down to the grassroots communities. The measures that were taken were the most comprehensive, strict and firm, that the world has ever seen. The principles of early diagnosis, early reporting, early quarantine and early treatment have been followed. Covid-19 patients were admitted into designated hospitals that offered the best experts, sufficient resources and timely and tailored treatment. Facts prove that these measures were timely, decisive and effective. The whole nation was under overall planning and fully mobilised to meet the crisis head-on and bring the virus under control.

Helping each other. China has acted responsibly, not only for the safety and health of the Chinese people but also with the global public health in mind. From the very beginning of the outbreak, China has been sharing what we know with the international community. From reporting the epidemic, providing a full genetic sequence, to sharing experience of prevention, control and treatment. China has also sent 19 medical teams to 17 countries, and donated much needed medical supplies such as masks, protective gowns, testing kits and ventilators to more than 150 countries and international organisations including the UK. This public health crisis proves that helping each other is the only way to a final victory over the virus.

Standing in solidarity. According to IMF estimation, the world economy will contract by three percent in 2020. The slide will be much worse than that caused by the international financial crisis in 2008. In the face of the grave situation, only solidarity can tide us over and prevent economic slowdown from evolving into an economic recession. At an extraordinary G20 leaders’ summit two months ago, President Xi Jinping said, at such a moment, it is imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence, act with unity and work together in a collective response. He also said that we need to enhance the international micro-economic policy coordination and take collective actions, cutting tariffs, removing barriers and facilitating the unfettered flow of trade so as to restore confidence of a global economic recovery.

China and the UK are partners in the battle against Covid-19. In a matter of one month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Johnson had two telephone conversations in which they reached an important agreement on China-UK joint response to the virus. Many of our senior ministers are talking with Ministers from the UK, and China and the UK have engaged in close cooperation and overall China-UK relations. There have been frequent telephone conversations between Vice Premier Hu Jinhua and Chancellor Sunak. Between Director Yang Jiechi and Sir Mark Sedwill. Between Councillor Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Raab and between Health Minister Ma Xiaowei and health secretary Matt Hancock. I myself have close communication with the UK government secretaries, ministers and senior officials here in London.

China and the UK have engaged in close coordination and cooperation in fighting against the epidemic. We have provided each other medical supplies, shared information and experience and conducted joint R&D on vaccines and medicines.

China and the UK are both strong advocates of multilateralism. We support important roles for the WHO in the global response to the virus, stand for stronger cooperation, and the framework of the G20 and the work to improve global public health governance.

Both China and the UK are important participants, facilitators and beneficiaries of economic globalisation and trade liberalisation. In this difficult time, it is important that our two countries uphold open and win-win cooperation and support free trade, safeguard multilateralism and ensure a global industry, and that supply chains are open, stable and safe.

Liu Xiaoming speaking to CBBC members on a Webinar on May 5, 2020.

While the international community is focusing on fighting against Covid-19, some US politicians are busy spreading rumours and slanders and turning a blind eye to China’s enormous efforts, sacrifices and contributions, by politicising public health issues, by sticking the virus label on a specific region and stigmatising China.

Regrettably, a few politicians in the UK have been addicted to the Cold War mentality. They compare China to the former Soviet Union and urge a review of the China-U.K. relationship, and even call for a new Cold War. Such talks are a political virus. If they go unchecked they will poison the China-UK joint effort, and even international solidarity, just as it’s needed most in the battle we are fighting.

They also undermine UK-China political mutual trust and cooperation across the board. We must stay on high alert and say no to these remarks. We should make it clear to the trumpeters of such a fallacy that China is not a former Soviet Union and the Cold War has ended for good. Peace and development are the saying of our times and also the common goal of China and the United Kingdom.

Chinese and British businesses have always played an important role in developing China-UK friendship and cooperation and promoting prosperity and stability in the world. The outbreak of Covid-19 has caused a temporary slide in China-UK trade. Some companies may encounter difficulties in payment, collection and logistics. On the brighter side, the positive factors of China-UK relations remains unchanged. The economies of our two countries are still highly complementary, the foundation for economic, trade and investment collaboration is still solid. Our businesses are still confident in China-UK cooperation. The Chinese word for “crisis” is a combination of two meanings, namely “crisis” and “opportunities”. In the face of a crisis, we always focus on finding opportunities in the crisis and turning the crisis into opportunities. In this time of difficulty, how do we turn this crisis into opportunities and speed up development?

Here are three suggestions:

As China’s economy takes the lead to recover there will be opportunities up for grabs. China has Covid-19 under control and continues to consolidate the initial success. Its economy is showing a steady momentum of recovery. As of the end of April, 99 percent of large-scale enterprises have reopened and 95 percent of staff and workers are back to work. Manufacturing PMI was above the threshold in both March and April, reaching 50.8 percent in April. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Commerce covering more than 8,200 key foreign companies in China, 76.6 percent had powered up 70 percent of their production capacity by April 28^th.

That battle against Covid-19 has also created opportunities for China’s economic transformation and upgrading. It has given rise to a ‘stay at home’ economy, cloud office, digital economy, Artificial Intelligence and healthcare. The potential for further growth in these areas will be huge.

China has become a major global supplier of medical products. This represents China’s contribution to the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic and helps transit the industrial and supply chains for these products in the future. China will continue to be the factory and the market of the world. China will remain an important powerhouse for world economic growth. It is my hope that British Business will seize opportunities in China’s economy and take the lead in global economic recovery once the pandemic is over.

As China pursues a more open world economy, there will be opportunities up for grabs. China’s enormous success in the past 40 plus years is attributed to reform and opening up. Going forward, deeper reform and further opening will continue to enable China to achieve even greater success.

China will continue deepening reform and opening its market wider to the world. This will not be held back by Covid-19. The Chinese government is implementing fully the policy of a pre-establishment, national treatment, plus an active list. It is also working on shortening that list and promoting the building of pilot free trade zones and free trade ports. The 127^th China Import and Export Fair will take place online in June. The 3^rd International Import Expo will be held in November. Both events will create valuable opportunities for the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the rest of the world. We look forward to seeing you all at this important event.

Moreover, China and the UK are engaging in discussions on arrangements for a Free Trade Agreement. China is now the third-largest export market for goods from the UK. The UK is the third-largest trading partner for China in the EU. It is also the largest destination for investment in Europe. I believe that in building an open world economy, China and the UK will find new impetus for trade and economic cooperation in the future. Our two countries can also identify important opportunities for revitalising the world economy.

The opportunities in building a Silk Road of public health will be up for grabs. The ongoing battle against Covid-19 tells us that we must make long term plans for global public health. We want to be well prepared for and gain an advantage in any future outbreaks. This means we should improve governance and in doing so we must enhance the leading role of the UN and the WHO. We must come together as a community. The Belt and Road Initiative offers important routes to building a community of public health. With its goal of promoting economic growth along the routes, safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, BRI can help partners to build stronger and more efficient public health. Building a Silk Road of public health could contribute to building and improving global health governance. In turn, it could open up more space for high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, China Railway Express opened a green channel for medical supplies and daily necessities to reach Europe in time and hassle-free. Amidst shrinking global trade, China Railway Express will facilitate the movement of goods across borders between China and Europe to alleviate the impact of the epidemic on industrial and supply chains.

I’m confident China and the UK could benefit from tapping the potential of BRI. The UK’s experience, knowledge and creative ideas will complement China’s capital technology and commercialisation capability. Together we can go for win-win results.

Covid-19 is a major test, which will bring major changes. In the face of this test, countries of the world must respond to a series of questions. Do we embrace economic globalisation or reject it? Do we stay open or hide behind the closed doors? Do we work together or fight each other? Do we go for multilateralism or resort to unilateralism? I’m sure China and the UK will have the same answers to these questions. I’m confident that as long as we stand firm, come to each other’s aid, turn crises into opportunities and deepen cooperation, we will claim final victory over the virus and create a better and brighter future for our world.

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles asks Ambassador Liu Xiaoming a series of questions during a CBBC webinar on May 5, 2020

Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles: People have been calling for an inquiry into the origins of the outbreak. What do you say to that?

China has been open, transparent and informed both the WHO and other countries with regards to the pathogen and genetic sequence. There is no cover-up, no hiding at all. We are transparent, we are open. That has been spoken of by the WHO, by their leading experts and scientists, and also by countries around the world, British scientists have confirmed this. Britain has said that due to early discovery of the virus and because of China’s sharing information very quickly and at an early stage, the world has time to study, to do research on a vaccine and to gain time for that. That has been fully recognised.

This inquiry, these noises and the so-called requests, mainly come from America and are also echoed by some Western countries, though very few. I think these calls are politically motivated while the international community is focusing on fighting the virus, whilst the virus is still ravaging the world, taking lives in many countries – especially the United States and also in this country. Instead of focusing on fighting the virus, instead of saving lives, they want to hold an inquiry. I don’t know. I think they have an ulterior motive. They want to pass the buck on their lack of response, lack of work and effort to contain the virus – to China. It’s a blame game, scapegoating. It’s not helpful for an international response to this virus.

With regards to the origin, it is up to the scientists. This is a matter for science. It is not for the politicians to decide. Politicians should be focused on how to mobilise the country to fight against the virus. We should trust scientists and doctors – the experts – in their search for the origin of the virus. Of course, every country should reflect on its response’s effectiveness. No country is perfect. But this is not the time for this. We also admit we can do even better. We are open and transparent with regard to how to draw lessons from the response to the virus. We can compare notes with other countries – we did as a matter of fact. We are open and transparent. That is different from the politically motivated calls for a so-called inquiry.

People are asking about the movement of people between the UK and China, are travel restrictions going to relax? 

Our top priority is to keep the virus under control. There are more concerns now about imported cases so we still have to be vigilant about them to make sure there will be no rebound or second wave. We still have to guard against this. The measures and restrictions are still in place, but it is improving and loosening as the situation improves.

I believe as the situation improves with regards to control of the virus, that the travel situation will get better and be improved. I just heard that the confirmed cases in China now is below 500. As we have more good news like this, the more we can relax restrictions.

Prior to the pandemic, there were 200,000 Chinese university students in the UK. Might students in China now be worried about coming to study in the UK?

 I agree with you that education is an important sector linking our two countries. The UK is the largest Chinese student group in Europe and second in the world.

There was a lot of concern at the beginning of the outbreak among Chinese students. I had several online webinars with students across the UK. The Chinese government is very much concerned about the health and safety of Chinese students. President Xi Jinping said on a number of occasions that we attach great importance to the safety and health of Chinese living overseas, especially Chinese students. In addressing our concerns our government provided what we call a ‘health package.’  I did a presentation ceremony at the embassy and we reached out to 100,000 Chinese students who remained in the UK. We also worked with the aviation authorities in China to arrange a charter plane to take back some young pupils who were dependent on British families for their weekends and spring break.

I’m still confident that the basics, the fundamentals of education collaboration between the UK and China are still there. It’s just a matter of time. The situation is not very encouraging here in the UK but still, we received many enquiries from students and their families about future enrolment in British schools.

In the past weeks, I wrote letters to 154 vice chancellors of 154 universities that home Chinese students. While expressing my concerns about their safety and the health of these Chinese students, I encouraged the school authorities to take good care of them and also expressed my commitment, our commitment, to stronger relationships between Chinese universities and British universities. I believe the fundamentals are still there and once the pandemic is over we can resume our cooperation so we still keep close contact with the universities.

My embassy education section keeps very close contact with over 100 British universities. I myself also keep close contact with the secretary of education of the UK government and with the Director General – we exchange letters about how China and the UK can strengthen education cooperation.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming during a recent CBBC event

When talking to Chinese investors in the UK, what do you say to reassure them, given some of the British voices in politics and the media who are critical of China?

First, we have to separate the official position of the government and the broad consensus among UK society towards China. So when you say there is a lot of anti-China rhetoric, I do not believe it represents the UK government’s position. They do not represent the broader consensus among the businesses in the UK, including CBBC and CBI, and I believe that the UK government under Prime Minister Johnson are still committed to a stronger relationship with China. In his two telephone conversations and his exchange of letters with the Chinese leaders, Prime Minister Johnson reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a stronger relationship with China, to a golden era with China.

I believe the business community here in this country also welcomes Chinese businesses, and supports stronger partnerships with China, so I’m not worried. When asked this question on Hard Talk, whether I am concerned about China-UK relations, my answer was yes and no. When I say yes, I am confident that we can work with the UK government across the board, in addition to joining the fight against the virus. Also, we have a busy agenda in front of us laterally and multilaterally, and I engage very actively with the business community. The education sector is another area. Even when it comes to the media, I think they are not all bad. At the beginning I read some balanced reports about China’s fight, China’s sacrifices, China’s service to buy the world time and to make enormous scarifies in many media. But once the Americans started this campaign of disinformation, some media followed suit. They dance to the tune of some American politicians and American media. Maybe there are some connections, culturally, I don’t want to be that critical. I do not want them to be friendly towards China, I just want them to be balanced and objective in their reporting of China.

But I agree with you. These kinds of noises – and there are also some from politicians – but they are few and I do not believe they represent the government position. They do not even represent the parliament. I think the main theme of China-UK relations is partnership, cooperation, friendship. This Cold War rhetoric doesn’t represent the mainstream of today.

We are now seeing a return of supply, but how do you see demand returning (both inside China and in China’s overseas markets). Will it slow the economic recovery?

Everyone agrees that the epidemic has had an impact on China’s economy. Not just on China’s domestic economy but also trade investment as well. But the government attaches great importance to the recovery of the economy.  Even before we had the epidemic under complete control, President Xi said we were fighting on two fronts: One, against the virus; and two, resumption of production of the economy.

The government has introduced many measures, including what we call ‘six stabilising measures’ and ‘six protection measures.’  The six stabilising measures are: to stabilise employment, financial markets, foreign trade, trade, FDI, and expectations. Measures were taken to protect: employment, basic livelihoods, market entities, food security, stable industrial supply chains, and normal operations of grassroots communities. These measures are already showing effectiveness. We are still committed to deepening reform and opening up. The foreign investment law has taken effect as of the beginning of this year.

Many new laws and regulations which open the market wider to the rest of the world – especially in the financial sector and insurance. – these offer a lot of opportunities for UK businesses that have strengths in legal, financial and insurance services. There will be more pilot free trade zones. So there are a lot of measures which are preferential to foreign businesses.

What digital changes will we see and what can we learn from China’s highly digitised approach to business?

The digital economy has a huge potential for cooperation between China and the UK. In the first quarter of this year, although the Chinese economy contracted by 6.8 percent – the lowest since 1992 when we started the statistics – the digital economy showed strong growth. On average, it increased by 20 percent in online sales, online business and the digital economy. The UK is the inventor of the Internet and has cutting-edge strengths in AI and many areas. China and the UK should work together in this sector as well. There are many UK companies already operating in China who know well how to work. But I would say China offers a huge market. Many people focus on China as the factory of the world – and yes we are the largest producer of many products and it will continue to be that way – but you have to remember that China is a huge market. It is the second-largest consumer country in the world and very soon will be the largest in the world. So the digital economy has enormous opportunities and great prospects for China-UK cooperation.

Will China continue with investment in China’s large projects such as the gigabit economy, HS2, HS3 and other projects?

We encourage more collaboration between different regions in China and the UK. If it weren’t for Covid-19, we would have a regional summit involving about 700 local leaders. This event was supposed to be held in Birmingham in February with John Peace, Chairman of the Midland Engine, and the Chinese embassy setting up this conference. There is enormous interest back in China. There are complementary features between the two countries. The UK has The Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine. We have the Greater Bay Area, Jingjinji Economic Zone the Yangtze Economic Belt, so we can dovetail the different strategies. And you are right that Chinese businesses are very ambitious about making new efforts outside of London and they have been successful in this respect.

In March, during the high time of the pandemic in China and at the start of the outbreak in the UK, I attended the acquisition event of British Steel by Jingye, a Hebei factory. That was a good example of Chinese business’ commitment to the UK market, despite Brexit and Covid-19. I was joined by Secretary Sharma, we spoke highly of this event. Jingye is not the largest Chinese steel company, but one of the most successful. As a result of the acquisition, they not only saved 3,200 jobs, but also they have committed £1.2 billion investment over the next 10 years to upgrade British Steel. I think they will make a great contribution to the transformation and upgrading of the British steel industry. I heard their operation has now been affected by Covid-19 because of industrial supply chain problems, but they feel confident it will come around and they believe they made the right decision.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming with HRH Queen Elizabeth

Does China understand the recent requests to strengthen national security controls on investment into the UK?

I understand that every country has national security to take care of. Not only here but also in China. National security is a top priority of the state of the national government. It has to be, whatever policies or laws will be passed, it has to be fair. You can’t single out China as a target for a security threat. That is unfair and it will send out a very bad message not only to China, but to the world.

We understand that the world has become more globalised and people have new concerns about security, but it has to be indiscriminate, it has to be transparent, it has to be fact-based, it has to be fair. The UK is known for its free, transparent, business-friendly environment. The last thing I would like to see is the UK scare away foreign or Chinese businesses by strengthening so-called security measures about foreign businesses.

The climate conference COP26 has now been postponed, but will cooperation between China and the UK on climate security continue? It has been said that there are few global problems that can be solved without the participation of China and dealing with climate change certainly is one of them.

China is committed to environmental protection and committed to the Paris Agreement. We have faithfully implemented our obligations and are very much a contributor to world efforts with regards to climate change. 2020 is supposed to be remembered as a collaboration between China and the UK in environmental protection and climate change. Because our two countries are planning to host COP26, we have a very close collaboration and our new Minister of Environmental Protection, Minister Huang, looks forward to engaging with secretary Sharma. I have had several exchanges with secretary Sharma, with regard to how China and the UK can work together to make these two conferences – the COP15 and COP26 – a great success, and not only for the benefit of the two countries, but also to show our leadership in this very important area.

When we talk about Covid-19 we have to think in the long term how we make this world a better place. Although it has been postponed, our two governments remain in close contact, the working groups are engaging with each other and we look for more productive and active engagement with the British team. Once the pandemic is over we can resume our work and carry on our efforts.

What might the Healthcare Silk Road mean for Britain?

PPE and ventilators are just one part of our collaboration. I am very pleased that even during the two telephone conversations between President Xi and Prime Minister Johnson, in addition to focusing on the current fight against the virus, they also talk about the importance of collaboration between the two countries on science, and joint efforts on the vaccine, medicine. They expressed support for scientists to work together in this area. Also on a ministerial level, secretary Matt Hancock is in close contact with his counterpart Minister Ma. In addition to telephone conversations, they have an exchange of letters to express their views on how to deepen the collaboration between our two countries bilaterally and also multilaterally.

On the government level, at a policy level, we have very close communication, and on the ground, we have this mutual assistance and support in providing medical suppliers – ventilators, PPE – and also we share experience and we share the success of the treatment cases. One Chinese medical team was here in the UK and they had online calls with their British counterparts. Scientists at universities and companies like GSK and others are working with counterparts in China to find a vaccine. At the end of the day, I think it will be a vaccine that will provide the final solution.

In the international arena I think China and the UK are good partners. We both support the important role played by the WHO and both support the international response and improvement of global public health. Yesterday in a conference hosted by the EU and the UK, our EU ambassador Zhang Ming spoke highly of the efforts of the EU and Britain and other countries and reaffirmed our commitment to the international effort and our support for developing countries. In the public health area, China and the UK have a lot to cooperate on.

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity

The post Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming’s speech to the <a href="http://cbbc.org">CBBC</a> appeared first on Focus - China Britain Business Council.

Peppa Pig, the children’s show that follows the life of an animated British piglet, is incredibly popular in China. It has racked up over 18 billion online views since its launch, whilst a recent viral video is poised to whisk five-year-old twins Mi Ni and Mi Ai from rural China to the gates of Buckingham Palace – creating a major win for Brand Britain along the way.

After watching an episode of Peppa Pig online in which Peppa visits the Queen at Buckingham Palace to go ‘splashing in puddles’, the twins made a video for the Queen, asking her if they could visit her in Buckingham Palace and splash in puddles together. The video went viral after the twins’ mother shared it on social media platform Weibo and in a matter of days it had caught the attention of the British Ambassador Barbara Woodward.

“Hello Mi Ni and Mi Ai,” said Dame Woodward. “I’m the British ambassador, so I’m the Queen’s representative in China. I’d like you to come and visit me in my house in Beijing, and we can perhaps have tea and scones in a British style.”

Peppa Pig visits the Queen

The ambassador’s video created a viral sensation of its own, with over 10 million views received in the first week but the biggest surprise was still to come. Video streaming platform Youku (who own the distribution Chinese rights to Peppa Pig) and the British Embassy have arranged for the twins – along with a pair of competition winners – to travel to London to visit Buckingham Palace. It isn’t clear at this time if the Queen is willing to go puddle jumping with the girls but it certainly has put Britain in a great light with a new generation of Chinese youngsters.

It’s incredible what soft power benefits this little piggy brings to market”

The willingness for Britain to engage in a little silliness and to help some dreams comes true will do wonders for a nation whose image has taken some blows on the international stage over the long drawn out process of Brexit. But some self-deprecating humour, the Royal family and further promotion of the great British export that is Peppa Pig are clearly adding cultural brownie points.

And not only has the Royal edition of Peppa Pig sparked a social media phenomenon but a trailer for a new Peppa Pig film (made specifically for the Chinese market by China’s Alibaba Pictures and Canada’s Entertainment One) has already attracted an astonishing 1.5 billion views on Weibo.

The trailer follows an elderly sheep farmer who, after his grandson asks for the pig as his Chinese New Year present, is trying to work out what Peppa Pig is. The video plays on the gulf between the older and younger generations as well as China’s rural and urban divide. “It hits the heart strings. China has modernised so fast and these old people have been left behind both technologically and by cultural trends, but the love is still here,” Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group in Shanghai, told the Financial Times.

The film, titled “Peppa Celebrates Chinese New Year” is released on February 5^th, in time for the Chinese New Year holiday break – a time when most of China’s major films are released.

After a series of poor marketing decisions by other major European brands, it’s incredible to see the soft power benefits that this little piggy brings to market.

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