On China-UK Relations

On China-UK Relations has selected 117 speeches from over 700 Liu Xiaoming, Former Chinese Ambassador to UK, had delivered during his 11-year tenure in the UK. The contents span multiple dimensions: China-UK relations, party and parliamentary exchanges, economic and trade relations, financial cooperation, science and technology cooperation, ecological and environmental protection, subnational exchanges, cultural exchanges, spring festival celebrations, educational exchange, Confucius institutes, military exchanges, Chinese community, British friends, and understanding between China and the UK.

This book contains Liu Xiaoming’s observations and reflections on China-UK relations: What kind of China-UK relationship do we need? How to develop stable and mutually beneficial China-UK relations? And how to enhance mutual understanding and recognition between China and the UK? More chapters are dedicated to introducing exchanges and cooperation in various fields between China and the UK.

Preface 001

PART 1 China-UK Relations
• Time and Tide Wait for No Man 007
• Put Righteousness and Interests in Perspective 009
• What Kind of China-UK Relationship Do We Need 014
• History Tells a Lot 024
• A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and the UK 035
• A “Super State Visit” 039
• Three Choices in China-UK Relations 043
• Stay Committed to Win-Win Cooperation 048
• China-UK Relations: What Has Changed and What Has Not 058
• Serve with Sincerity All the Way through 064

PART 2 Party and Parliamentary Exchanges
• Why China and the UK Need a Stronger Partnership 071
• Make a Creative and Bold Effort 075
• Build Common Ground for China-UK Relations 079

PART 3 Economic and Trade Relations
• New Opportunities for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation between China and the UK 085
• Three Questions on China-UK Economic Cooperation 091
• Confucius Wisdom and China-UK Economic Ties 097
• New Driving Force for China’s Development, New Opportunities for China-UK Cooperation 104
• Hard Times Will Not Stop the Wheel of History 114
• Create a Sound Environment for New Success in China-UK Business Cooperation 121
• Embrace New Era, Open up New Prospects and Scale New Heights 129
• Build on Past Achievements and Join Hands to Enhance China-UK Win-Win Cooperation 136
• Keep Big Picture in Mind and Deepen Cooperation 142

PART 4 Financial Cooperation
• Seize the Opportunity to Deepen a Win-Win Partnership 149
• The London Opportunity for the Internationalization of RMB 156
• Advancements of RMB Internationalization in the UK 160
• Let China-UK Cooperation Bear More Fruits 162
• Work Together for a Promising Future of China-UK Financial Cooperation 164
• Firm Confidence in a Brighter and Shared Future 172
• Pursue Green Development and Write a New Chapter of Financial Cooperation 177
• Enhance Financial Cooperation and Deliver More Fruits 181

PART 5 Cooperation on Science and Technology
• Win-Win Cooperation for Mankind 187
• Forewarned Is Forearmed 189
• Promote Development through Cooperation on Innovation 191
• Keep to the Right Direction and Open up a Win-Win Future 200
• Take the Lead in Open Cooperation on Innovation and Deliver Win-Win Results 203

PART 6 Ecological and Environmental Protection
• Hundred Years to Rear People 209
• Stronger China-UK Energy Cooperation Paves the Way for Building a Community of Shared Future 213
• Protect the Wildlife and Build a Beautiful Global Village 220
• Make Our Planet a Better Home for All 224
• Address Climate Change and Promote Energy Transition 229
• Write a New Chapter of Ecological Conservation and Build a Shared Future for All Life on Earth 235

PART 7 Subnational Exchanges
• Two Dragons Will Not Only Dance Together but Prosper Together 243
• We Need a Win-Win Partnership 247
• Enchanting Land of Plenty 252
• Focus on Quality Instead of Size 254
• Jiangsu, a Leader in China-UK Relations 257
• Work the Bellows to Beat out Real Iron 259
• A Spectacular Symphony of Win-Win Cooperation 262
• Adopt a Pioneering, Practical and Enterprising Spirit and Achieve New Success in China-UK Cooperation 265
• Mutual Learning between the East and the West Will Boost China-UK Strategic Partnership 269
• Tap the Potential for a Brighter Future of China-Scotland Cooperation 273
• Seize the“Precious Opportunity”and Advance Guizhou-UK Cooperation 281
• A New High Ground of Reform and Opening-up, a New Contribution to China-UK Relations 286
• Take China-UK Subnational Cooperation to a New Level 290
• Cooperation on Innovation Leads to a Bright Future 293
• Stay at the Forefront of Reform and Opening-up, and Contribute to China-UK Strategic Partnership 298
• Hold High the Banner of Openness and Create a Brighter Future 301

PART 8 Cultural Exchanges
• Promote Understanding and Strengthen Friendship 309
• Language Is an Important Carrier of Culture 311
• Garments Are Cultural Symbols 313
• Enjoy Mountains and Water 315
• Increase Mutual Understanding and Cooperation 317
• China’s Fashion Industry: Time for Going Global 320
• Unite the East and the West 325
• An Amazing“Home Trip” 328
• Enjoy Three Favorables 330
• Create New Splendour 333
• A Highly Acclaimed Achievement in China-UK Cultural Exchanges 335
• A Timely China Cultural Season 339
• The Vast Sea Admits Hundreds of Rivers 343
• Give Wings of Wisdom to China-UK Cultural Exchanges 346
• Deepen China-UK Sports Cooperation for a Better World 348
• Contribute More Creativity and Dynamism to China-UK Relations 354
• Weave the Dream of China-UK Cooperation 358
• Pass on the Torch of Civilizations to Realize the Dream for the Future 361
• Enjoy the Beauty of China and Build a Bridge of Friendship and Cooperation 365
• A Beautiful Story of China-UK Cultural Exchanges and Friendship 368

PART 9 Spring Festival Celebrations
• Longevity and Harmony 373
• A Delightful Taste of China, a Closer China-UK Bond 375
• Fusion of Flavours for a Fruitful Future 378
• Build a Big Global Family Together 381

PART 10 Educational Exchanges
• Share Experiences of Studying in China 389
• From Acquaintance to Understanding, from Understanding to Connection 392
• A Brighter Future for China-UK Educational Cooperation 395
• Develop Together through Exchanges and Mutual Learning 403
• Plan for One Hundred Years of China-UK Relations 407
• Build World Peace and Prosperity on Wisdom 411
• A Symphony of China-UK Educational Exchanges and Cooperation 418
• Devote Your Youthful Vigour to China-UK Cooperation 422
• Make Greater Contribution to China-UK Educational Exchanges and Cooperation 426

PART 11 Confucius Institutes
• Study Language, Promote Friendship 431
• Add to the Momentum of Rising Demand for Mandarin 433
• Fruits of China-UK and China-Europe Cooperation 438
• Wave Your Magic Wand to Contribute a New Chapter to China-UK Relations 441
• Build a Bridge of Exchanges and Understanding 445

PART 12 Military Exchanges
• A Valiant Force for Peace and Friendship 451
• Seize the Moment and Start a New Journey 454
• For World Peace and More Splendid China-UK Relations 457
• Safeguard Peace and Promote Development 460

PART 13 Chinese Community
• What Is Unique to a Nation Is Precious for the World 467
• Our Common Roots, Our Shared Future 469

PART 14 British Friends
• Study History and Focus on the Present 475
• The Memory of Friendship Never Fades 478
• A Steed Aspires to Gallop a Thousand Miles 482
• A Better View Further down the Road 485
• Reform Promotes Development and Cooperation Enhances Friendship 489

PART 15 Understanding between China and the UK
• Chopsticks vs Knives and Forks 495
• Respect Each Other and Stand Together through Thick and Thin 500
• A Clear Head Comes from an Open Mind 505
• Collaborate and Grow Together 512
• Build a New Type of Relationship between China and the West 519
• Carry Forward Yan Fu’s Spirit 529

Afterword 533

Liu Xiaoming

Graduated from Dalian University of Foreign Languages with a major in English and undertook further studies in the United States, obtaining a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1983.

Liu Xiaoming started to serve as a Chinese diplomat since 1974, acting as Deputy Director-General of Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Chinese Embassy in the US, Ambassador of China in Egypt, Vice Minister of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of China in the DPRK and Ambassador of China in the UK. And Liu Xiaoming presently serves as the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs and Member of Foreign Policy Advisory Committee.

Liu Xiaoming has been awarded the Fletcher School Dean’s Medal of the US, the First Class Friendship Medal of the DPRK, the Fletcher Class of 1947 Memorial Award, the 48 Group Club Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Sino-British Relations, Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of Nottingham, the Freedom of the City by the City of London Corporation and Honorary Doctorate fr0m University of Huddersfield.

He is the author of Sharp Dialogue, Tell China’s Story, No Question Unanswered and On China-UK Relations.