Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to the United Kingdom this week at the invitation of the British Queen Elizabeth II. This will be the first state visit from a Chinese president to Britain in a decade. In preparation, we present some of Xi's previous comments on China-UK relations.
1. "China-UK relations have global impact."
China and the United Kingdom are both major economies and Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. Their bilateral relations not only matter to each country's development, but also have global impact.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Beijing on Dec. 2, 2013)
2. "China and UK should stand high and look far."
Both side should stand high and look far, think beyond the differences in national conditions, political institutions and values, enhance mutual understanding, mutual respect, treat each other equally, take into consideration each other's major concerns and core interests, enhance mutual trust, carefully plan the future of China-UK relations and boost the long-term healthy development of bilateral relations.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Beijing on Dec. 2, 2013)
3. "China and UK could learn from each other in exchanges on reform and innovation."
China and the United Kingdom are highly complementary in economic terms with a foundation for sound cooperation and a broad future. We are implementing the overall deployments made by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC to comprehensively deepen reform, preparing to transform the economic development mode, modify the economic structure, accelerating Chinese enterprises going overseas. The United Kingdom takes pride in its service sector, especially financial services; The UK is also vigorously promoting reform and welcomes foreign investment. The cooperation between the two countries come right on time. We hope the United Kingdom will assume a more active, and open attitude to cooperation with China, and create a more relaxed environment. The two countries could learn from each other in the exchanges on reform and innovation.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Beijing on Dec. 2, 2013)
4. "China and the United Kingdom should jointly respond to global challenges."
At present, the world economic recovery is at a critical stage, and the international situation is undergoing fundamental changes. China and the United Kingdom should strengthen communication and cooperation on international affairs to promote peace, development, cooperation and new ideas in international relations for a win-win result, and jointly respond to global challenges.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Beijing on Dec. 2, 2013)
5. "China and the United Kingdom show mutual respect and address each other's concerns."
British Prime Minister David Cameron visited China with success in last December, turning a new page in the two countries' bilateral relations. I hope both sides will continue with such efforts; and based on the basis of mutual respect and addressing each other's major concerns, we should keep high-level exchanges, make the most of the Annual China-UK Prime Ministers' Meeting, and the China-UK Strategic Dialogue to strengthen communication and cooperation.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in the Netherlands on March 25, 2014)
6. "China and the United Kingdom should shape 'flagship projects' in the high-speed rail and financial sectors."
China and the United Kingdom should shape "flagship projects" in nuclear power, high-speed railways, high-tech and finance. The two countries should deepen exchanges and cooperation on education, science and media, and facilitate personnel exchanges. China recognizes the United Kingdom's major role in the European Union, and wishes the UK to play a leading role in the feasibility study of promoting China-EU FTZ.
(Meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron in the Netherlands on March 25, 2014)
7. "China-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is on the fast track."
Both China and the United Kingdom are globally influential countries; we share extensive common interest and shoulder the major responsibility for world peace and development. Currently, China and the United Kingdom have good relations, and the China-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is on the fast track in development. Bilateral trade volume has exceeded US$80 billion. The United Kingdom is also a major destination of Chinese investment. The two countries have continuously made progress in the cooperation on finance, nuclear power, and high-speed railways.
(Meeting the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in Beijing on March 2, 2015)
8. "China and the United Kingdom are major representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations."
This is the Year of China-UK Year of Cultural Exchange. China and the United Kingdom represent the best civilizations of East and West. Strengthening exchanges and cooperation is bound to make positive contributions to the progress of the world civilization.
(Meeting Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in Beijing on March 2, 2015)
9. "Royal members of the United Kingdom have promoted the China-UK exchanges in various sectors."
The British Monarch is both influential in the United Kingdom and the world. British royal family members have, for years, cared about and supported development of China-UK relations. They have made great efforts to promote the communications and cooperation on trade, environmental protection, and people-to-people exchanges, which China appreciates. We welcome British royal family members to visit China more often.
(Meeting Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in Beijing on March 2, 2015)
10. "Chinese football team should learn from England and other world leaders."
China is willing to learn from world leading teams including England. China and the United Kingdom have attempted fruitful cooperation on football. In 2013, the China Super League and the Premier League signed a letter of intent. China and the United Kingdom will conduct more exchanges including competition events on martial arts and qigong. I hope you, Prince William, will make more contributions to China-UK sports exchanges and cooperation.
