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Sir David Brewer,
Chairman Stephen Perry,
Chairman Richard Reid,
Lord Howe,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to once again join all of you, friends from the British business community.
I want to thank you most warmly for hosting such a grand dinner. This is a very meaningful way to mark forty years of full diplomatic relations between China and the UK.
In this special year for China-UK relations, it is appropriate to refresh old friendship and make new friends. More importantly, it is the time to learn from the past and so create a stronger future. It is the time to build on the progress made and work for greater achievements.
In this fortieth year of relations, I feel encouraged we made a good start. Here are some examples:
● Mr Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and State Councilor Madame Liu Yandong successfully visited the UK last month. Many of you present here attended the relevant events.
● The China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue was launched.
● The UK Now project was unveiled in China.
● We have been preparing for a series of important dialogues and visits scheduled for later this year.
● We have been planning for multiple cooperation and exchanges in trade,investment, finance, cultural and people-to-people links.
● We look forward to the London Olympic Games becoming another highlight in our bilateral relations.
These are all positive trends.
However, there are always some forces working against our joined eforts to build warm relations.
● These forces dislike the dynamic growth of China-UK relations.
● They have trifled away the progress made through hard eforts.
● They have wasted the rare opportunities in our bilateral ties.
● This is why we now face an undesirable situation in our relations.
This is not the first time we have encountered difficulties. History shows a variable climate in the past four decades. We have experienced both storms and sunshine. Our relationship has never been plain sailing. We have often had to travel on a bumpy road.
Some of you may recall two months ago a reception at the Chinese Embassy. At that time I mainly talked about achievements in these past 40 years. This evening I will focus on the lessons we should draw from those four decades. Learning lessons from the past will help us avoid roller coasters in our relations. This approach could remove many bumps from the road we will travel along.
To drive home my message, I will quote a famous British statesman.
Lord Palmerston twice served as British Prime Minister in the 19th century.However, he is best remembered for his direction of British foreign policy. One of his famous quotes says:
“We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual.”
This indicates that securing“interests”is an enduring goal of British foreign policy.There is no doubt that interests are critical to the development of any country. Yet interests difer in nature and need to be treated accordingly. This means we must have a good knowledge about two questions:
● What are the interests involved in China-UK relations?
● How should we properly handle these interests?
To address these questions, I believe the following three points are essential.
First, we should advance common interests. We have success stories in this aspect.
In the 1970s, opposing hegemonism and power expansion served the common interests of China and the UK. To advance these interests, our two countries overcame dificulties and established ambassadorial diplomatic relations.
In the 1980s, maintaining stability and prosperity in Hong Kong represented our common interests. Through negotiations, we signed the Joint Declaration over Hong Kong. This milestone document laid a solid foundation for the final solution for the future of Hong Kong. Lord Howe was one of those who made important contributions to this historical achievement.
Today, common interests of China and the UK cover broader areas.
At the bilateral level, our shared interests lie in:
● Increasing trade.
● Expanding two-way investment.
● Boosting growth of both economies.
● Stepping up cooperation in education, culture and science and technology.
● And strengthening people-to-people links.
At the global level, the world economy is full of uncertainties. The international landscape is going through profound changes. So, our common interests are defined as:
● Working together for world peace, stability and prosperity.
● And jointly tackling common challenges facing all mankind.
China-UK relations can only keep growing when both nations are truly committed to a Sino-UK comprehensive strategic partnership and common interests of the two countries.
My second point is that we should respect each other's interests. China and the UK are diferent in many ways. We are diferent in:
● History.
● Culture.
● Values.
● Social system.
● And development stage.
It should be no surprise that we have diferent national interests.
As a developing country, China considers the following as its core interests:
● Preserving its basic state system.
● Defending its national security.
● Safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
● And ensuring sustained and stable economic and social development.
These interests are the“red lines”of the Chinese foreign policy. They shall not be crossed by any foreign country.
Any attempt to support and connive at anti-China separatist forces hurts the Chinese core interests. Whatever the excuses, such moves will meet firm opposition from China.
China will not do anything to undermine Britain's national interests. So it is perfectly reasonable that Britain should also respect the Chinese national interests. If that is not the case then bilateral ties will surely sufer.
My third point is that we should uphold overarching interests.
National interests are overarching because they concern the people of the entire country. So, what are in the best interests of Chinese and British people?
I believe that our two peoples are eager to see greater progress in China-UK relations and more fruitful cooperation between us in all fields. This certainly is the goal of all the business leaders gathered here this evening. Through cooperation, we will be able to expand trade, increase investment, create jobs, and promote economic growth. These will bring benefits to all of our peoples. Working towards these achievements make up the overarching interests of China and the UK.
Political leaders should at all time uphold the overarching interests of the two countries. They should always support the larger interests of bilateral relations. They should follow the will of the people and advance the well-being of all the people.
What political leaders should not do is to pander to minority views. They should not please small groups at the expense of the overall interests of the country. This is what distinguishes statesmen from politicians.
In China-UK relations, we need statesmen who have strategic vision and keep in mind the larger picture. We do not need short-sighted politicians who are blinded by immediate interests and obsession with votes. What we need to serve is overarching national interests, not the interests of interest groups, or the interests of some forces.
Friends from the British business community:
You have produced“icebreakers”in our bilateral relations. You have long been active participants and firm promoters of China-UK business ties. Growth of China UK relations needs the support of thriving economic cooperation. It also needs the guarantee of a sound political relationship. In the absence of mutual political trust,there will be no stable bilateral relationship. In turn, deepening economic cooperation will be a“mission impossible”.
As China-UK political relationship is now facing difficulty, I do hope that you,friends from the British business community, will:
● Carry forward the spirit of“icebreakers”.
● Leverage your influence and play your part in creating a favourable political environment for economic cooperation.
● And help bring China-UK relations back to a normal track.
This is my expectation of you!
It is also our shared interest!
Thank you!