Chinese, British top diplomats reaffirm strengthening of 'golden era' relations

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Beijing on Monday. Both sides have reaffirmed their keen willingness to strengthen the two countries' "golden era" of relations at the 9th China-UK Strategic Dialogue.

The two held an in-depth exchange on deepening cooperation on free trade, multilateralism and global governance.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (L) shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi after a joint news conference at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 30, 2018. /Reuters Photo‍

Given the rising trend of anti-globalization, the two leaders agreed that it is of vital importance for both China and the UK to make joint efforts in upholding the rules-based international order, as well as solving regional issues.

Wang Yi said that this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, "China has announced and started implementing a series of important measures to expand opening-up, which will provide more opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides."

"China was the first country I visited outside Europe," Hunt said.

He added that the UK appreciates the great achievements of the Chinese government in poverty alleviation, in the economy and in social rights.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in Beijing, July 30, 2018. /CGTN Photo

This is Hunt's first major overseas trip since he replaced Boris Johnson as the foreign secretary earlier this month.

During British Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to China in January, both sides agreed to advance their relations to a higher level, described as the “Golden Era.”

May also invited Premier Li Keqiang to visit her country early next year. Meanwhile, the UK plans to send a high-level delegation to China’s first International Import Expo in Shanghai this fall.

China-UK trade and investment

China-UK trade and investment saw robust growth recently.

A freight train from Yiwu City in east China's Zhejiang Province, arrives in Barking, east London, Britain, on January 18, 2017. ‍/XInhua Photo

According to statistics from HM Revenue & Customs of the UK, the country's total exports to China reached 5.7 billion US dollars in the first quarter of 2018. That's an 8.1 percent increase year on year.

Meanwhile, the UK imported 13 billion US dollars worth of goods from China during the same period, seeing a 10.7 percent growth year on year. In 2017, total cargo trade between China and the UK amounted to 79 billion US dollars, an increase of 6.2 percent over the previous year.

Chinese exports to the UK reached 56.7 billion US dollars, up 1.8 percent from 2016. Imports from the UK hit 22 billion US dollars last year, a 19.4-percent increase. The UK’s investments in China amounted to 1.5 billion dollars while China’s non-financial investments in Britain reached 1.53 billion US dollars.

Jointly promote Belt and Road

The UK is the natural partner of China's Belt and Road and has set a number of goals for participating.

"We agree to explore the potential of cooperation in finance, law, innovation and tripartite cooperation, and the potential to sign cooperation documents on Belt and Road and third-party markets," Wang Yi said.

He stressed that the Belt and Road Initiative is open and inclusive. "We don't have small circles. We don't have high barriers."

"We welcome joint development and sharing through bilateral or three-way or four-way cooperation, whether the country is developed or developing," the foreign minister added.

China respects international laws and regulations because Belt and Road is also rule-driven, Wang Yi said, citing the example of the Hinkley Point C nuclear project.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (L) speaks during his meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, July 30, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Hunt said that China is expected to become the world's largest economy in the next 20 years, adding that "China's development and growth is an opportunity rather than a threat to the world."

"UK hopes to strengthen strategic dialogue with China, deepening understanding and friendship, pushing forward the sustainable development of the 'golden era' bilateral relations," he added.

Wang also welcomed British leaders to attend the second Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in China next year, and welcomed the UK to be one of the host countries of the first China international import expo.

(CGTN's Zou Yun also contributed to the story.)