The 10th UK-China Leadership Forum was held in Beijing on Tuesday. It marked a decade of the forum, which is jointly managed by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Great Britain-China Center (GBCC). The forum convenes once a year, with the two sides alternating as hosts.

It is believed that the forum will continue to serve as an important platform in enhancing political mutual trust between politicians from the UK and China through party-to-party exchanges, so as to facilitate the steady growth of UK-China relations.

Congratulatory messages from General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, were read out to the gathering.

Song Tao, minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, said: "The world is witnessing a period of time with tremendous development, big changes, and great reform and adjustments. We face lots of common challenges. As two influential countries, China and UK need to strengthen communication to jointly usher in the golden era of bilateral ties."

David Lidington, Britain's minister for the Cabinet Office, read May's message: "The golden era continues to go from strength to strength, and the global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century has been reinvigorated. I (Theresa May) was delighted to visit China earlier this year, when I discussed with President Xi and Premier Li (Keqiang) the mutual importance of further progressing the UK-China relationship." 

Many delegates are optimistic about the prospects for further cooperation between China and the UK in the post-Brexit era. 

GBCC President Lord Mandelson said: "I think the ties between Britain and China are already strong. Both of our two countries' leaders talked about the golden era of bilateral relations. I have always worked towards that, and I want to see it continue. It has to be underpinned by two things, one is trade in order to build economic benefits, but also politically, we have to realize the common interests in the international system." 

GBCC Vice President Rt Hon Sir Oliver Letwin said: "I think the Belt and Road is a major opportunity not just for the countries along the Silk Road not just for China, but for the whole world. And in particular, also for the UK. It can encourage significant development in trade. And the UK has a large amount expertise in services and in finance and in other areas which we can contribute. We were the first participants in the Infrastructure Bank (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) and that's playing a major role in this initiative."