Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Thank You Reception Hosted by the UK Chinese Business Association: Follow the Trend of the Times and Promote Cooperation
Spencer House, 9 Dcember 2019

Chairman Zhang,

Executive Chairman Yang,

Sir John,

Sir Anthony,

My Lords,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening!

I would like to take this opportunity to once again extend my warmest congratulations on the success of the 15th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC), which was held in London 50 days ago with numerous highlights and fruitful outcomes.

From the promotional event to the opening ceremony, and from the closing ceremony to today’s reception, I have walked every step of the way over a period of 100 days of WCEC. I think I am in the position to say that:

The 15th WCEC has set many records.
It has followed the trend of our times by providing a platform for cooperation.
It has been a convention for friendship, cooperation and win-win results.

The Convention has drawn to a close, but it has left with us three important lessons:

First, unity enables Chinese entrepreneurs to do great deeds.

The 15th WCEC, hosted by the UK Chinese Business Association, received extensive response and strong support from Chinese communities and groups from all walks of life in the UK. Everyone was working for the same goal and pulling in the same direction. They have actively contributed fund, manpower and wisdom. They have played an important part in ensuring the success of the Convention.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and pay high tribute to the entrepreneurs, to Chinese community leaders and to volunteers who have supported and taken part in the Convention.

I am confident that as long as the Chinese communities in the UK have the larger picture in mind and put their strengths together, they will accomplish great deeds on the global stage in the future.

I sincerely hope that the Chinese communities in the UK will seize the new opportunities and achieve new success. I hope they will continue to tell China’s stories and introduce the Chinese culture to the world. I hope they will promote China-UK friendly cooperation and make new contribution to the development of China-UK relations!

Second, mutual trust and mutual benefit pave the thoroughfare to China-UK cooperation.

This was the first time that WCEC came to the UK. In doing so, Chinese entrepreneurs across the world have given their approval of, support for and confidence in China-UK business cooperation. Nearly half of the participating Chinese entrepreneurs come from China. They are ready, and they have the business strength and advantages, to explore the British market.

The UK side also attached great importance to the 15th WCEC. Renowned British entrepreneurs have set up a steering committee for this Convention, with British companies accounting for one fifth of all those taking part in the Convention.

During the Convention, Chinese and UK companies signed seven cooperation agreements. This once again proves that as China deepens reform and opening its market wider to the world and as the UK is about to leave the EU, China and the UK need to work with each other and pool their comparative strengths. China-UK cooperation enjoys a promising prospect.

At the same time, we must keep in mind that mutual respect and mutual trust are the foundation for steady and sustained development of China-UK cooperation. Without this foundation, our partnership could not move forward smoothly and could even backpedal.

Going forward, China and the UK should keep the larger picture and long-term interests in mind and view each other’s development as opportunities rather than challenges, still less threats. We should take concrete steps to translate our comparative advantages and potential for cooperation into tangible outcomes. Together we will make the pie of common interests bigger.

I sincerely hope that the UK will continue to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, including Huawei, so as to encourage Chinese and British companies to share development opportunities and achieve win-win results.

Third, openness and inclusiveness are the trend of our times.

In today’s world, openness, connectivity and win-win cooperation are the trend of the times; Cold-War mentality, zero-sum game, unilateralism and protectionism are against the will of the people.

Chinese entrepreneurs from all over the world have participated actively in the WCEC. This fully shows that they and the overseas Chinese communities are following the trend of opening up. They embrace the world and pursue win-win cooperation.

The WCEC also received enthusiastic response from all walks of life in the UK. This is a vivid example of the joint efforts of China and the UK in upholding the idea of openness, promoting free trade and expanding open cooperation.

It is my sincere hope that Chinese and British entrepreneurs will continue to follow the trend of our times and adopt an open and inclusive attitude, so as to ensure deeper, more substantial and mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and the UK, and contribute to building an open world economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

There is a popular saying which goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone; and if you want to go far, go together.”

The 15th WCEC has been a great success. But Chinese entrepreneurs across the world still has work to do in pooling their strength, extending their influence and enhancing the cooperation. At the same time, China and the UK also have work to do: We must seek opportunities, deepen consensus and share the outcomes of cooperation.

Let’s join hands to take full advantage of the development opportunities through greater opening up, and achieve win-win results through deeper cooperation.

Let’s join hands to make new contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Thank you!