(Ambassador Liu Talking with Chair Hendrick (Middle) and Vice Chair Moon (Left))

On June 22nd, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming attended the dinner hosted by the new British All Party Parliamentary China Group. Attending the dinner were Mr. Mark Hendrick, the new Chair of the China Group, Mr. Jeremy Browne, FCO Minister of State,and other over 30 Group members.

Mr. Hendrick welcomed Ambassador Liu to the first event of the new China Group and said that the Members of Parliament were actively applying to join the China Group and the Group continued to be the second largest country group in the British Parliament with its membership already exceeding 400. Mr. Hendrick thanked the Chinese Embassy for its long-standing support to the China Group and said that the Group would maintain the sound exchange mechanism with China, strengthen dialogue and exchanges and engage more Members of Parliament in the parliamentary exchanges between the UK and China.

 

(Ambassador Liu Making Remarks)

In his remarks Ambassador Liu congratulated Mr. Hendrick on his election as the Chair of the China Group and spoke highly of the contributions of the China Group to the development of the China-UK relations over the years. Ambassador Liu said that the increase of the membership of the China Group from no more than 100 thirteen years ago to the current over 400 should be attributed to the following factors: First, China's development. Over the past ten years and more, as China saw a sustained and rapid economic development, rising overall national strength and a rising international status, the British Members of Parliament hoped to know more about China and have more contact with it. Second, development of the China-UK relations. Since 1997 when Hong Kong returned to China, the China-UK relations have been moving forward. The expanding common interests and the strengthening cooperation between the two countries created favorable conditions for the parliamentary exchanges between China and the UK. Third, active efforts of the China Group. In recent years, the China Group has set up a mechanism of regular exchanges with the National People's Congress of China; organized several delegations to visit China; went deep into the central and western regions of China for a comprehensive understanding of the country's national conditions; and held annual seminars to allow all sectors in Britain to better understand China. This has drawn attention from many Members of Parliament and gained popularity for it.

Ambassador Liu pointed out that currently the China-UK relations are at a new starting point and faced with many important opportunities. The parliamentary exchanges are an important component of the China-UK relations. China expects and believes that the China Group under the leadership of Mr. Hendrick will surely make greater contribution to facilitating the parliamentary communication and exchanges between the two countries and promoting the mutual understanding of the two peoples.

The Ambassador said that the Chinese Embassy in the UK would continue to fully support all the work of the China Group and serve as a bridge for China-UK parliamentary exchanges and cooperation.

(Minister of State Browne Making Remarks)

Minister of State Browne said in his remarks that the development of the current world situation is beyond imagination and that China and other emerging countries have emerged onto the world stage. The close cooperation between the UK and China in various fields including trade and economy has not only brought significant economic benefits to both countries, but also facilitated their personnel exchanges and cultural interactions. The UK highly values the UK-China relations. The British government, parliament and political parties have a consensus on the development of the relations between the two countries and are ready to strengthen the cooperation with China in bilateral and international affairs. He hoped that the All Party Parliamentary China Group would play a positive role in promoting the UK-China relations.

The Members of Parliament present all expressed the willingness to strengthen communication and enhance mutual understanding with China and to jointly promote the parliamentary exchanges and bilateral relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Liu also answered questions on Tibet, the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, non-proliferation, RMB exchange rate and China-Africa cooperation.

 

(Ambassador Liu Talking with MPs)