Despite the differences that exist between China and the United Kingdom, the fact that the door of dialogue remains open at high levels shows the two countries' resolve to expand common interests while promoting the steady and long-term development of mutually beneficial Sino-UK relations.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Premier Li Qiang told UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that China welcomes the UK to expand practical cooperation with China and is willing to deepen cooperation with the country in such fields as trade, investment, green development, people-to-people exchanges, and science and technology.

Their meeting came shortly after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Beijing late last month in the highest-level trip by a UK politician to China in several years, underscoring the importance the leaders of the two countries attach to face-to-face talks that can help them to avoid any misunderstandings.

Just a few years ago, the UK was expected to enjoy a "golden era" of bilateral relations with China, as evidenced by their unprecedentedly close economic ties. At the height of their friendly relationship, the UK was the first G7 member to sign up to the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, while Chinese companies were allowed to participate in the UK's new nuclear program, with a plan to build a Chinese-designed reactor in Essex.

Yet due to the fast-changing international landscape, especially after London started to closely toe Washington's line in the wake of Brexit, Sino-UK relations have been on a downward spiral. Moreover, some UK politicians have been sparing no efforts to push the UK government to toughen its China policy, by describing the country as a "systemic threat" to the UK's national security. They have used recent reports about a UK parliamentary researcher who has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China as new ammunition with which to attack China, even after the Chinese embassy refuted the story as being "completely fabricated" and "malicious slander".

Fortunately, such attempts at derailing the development of normal China-UK relations have been to no avail, since it serves both countries' interests if they engage with each other in a cooperative way.

As Cleverly said: "No significant global problem – from climate change to pandemic prevention, from economic instability to nuclear proliferation – can be solved without China."

So long as the two sides properly handle their differences, uphold the spirit of inclusiveness and mutual learning, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, Sino-UK relations can still enjoy a bright future.