On the evening of September 29th, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming and Madam Hu Pinghua hosted at the Chinese Embassy a reception marking the 61st Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. Over 300 people, including Mr. Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Mr. Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport, Ms. Cheryl Gillan, Secretary of State for Wales, Mr. Jeremy Browne, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff and other political and military officials, Mr. Mark Hendrick, Chair of All Party Parliamentary China Group, members of Parliament of the three parties, representatives from the circles of economy, technology, culture, education, etc. and foreign diplomatic envoys to UK, attended the reception.

(Ambassador Liu delivers a speech)

Ambassador Liu addressed the reception. In retrospect of the great achievements made by the People’s Republic of China over the 61 years since its founding, and in particular, over the 32 years since the reform and opening-up, Ambassador Liu said that China has come a long way in the past 61 years. It has achieved rapid economic growth and made great progress in human rights. The Chinese society is more open than ever before, and the country is an important force for world peace and common development. We take pride in China’s development, as it embodies the hard work and pioneering spirit of the Chinese people, and is a huge achievement in the history of mankind.

Ambassador Liu said that, at the same time, we are also keenly aware that China is still a developing country with a large population and faces many complex challenges. China still features a very low per capita level of development, with its per capita GDP accounting for only one tenth of that of UK. According to the UN standard, 150 million people in China still live in poverty. The country also suffers from uneven development between its rural and urban areas and many areas in central and western China and countryside are still rather underdeveloped.

The Ambassador said that the world we live in is constantly changing, where you see different things, old and new, advanced and less developed, and opportunities and challenges. These days people often ask how China manages to sustain its development and where it is heading. As Premier Wen Jiabao answered these questions at the UN General Assembly recently, China will continue with reform, opening-up and peaceful development. We will focus on economic development, work hard to upgrade our growth pattern and restructure our economy to ensure that our growth is balanced and sustainable; we will deepen the reforms on both our economic and political systems; and we will open wider to the world while following a strategy of mutual benefit.

(From the left: Mr. Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport, Mr. Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ms. Gillan, Secretary of State for Wales and Mr. Browne, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Ambassador Liu went on to point out that, although China and UK differ in social systems, cultural heritage and level of development, these differences are outweighed by the similar ideas we share about economic and social development, and that the business, educational and scientific cooperation between the two countries are thriving. China and UK also have extensive common interests in international affairs and their bilateral relations are becoming increasingly strategic, global and mutually beneficial. The coalition government continues to give priority to the UK-China relations and advocates enhanced cooperation in many areas. A strong China-UK relationship not only serves the fundamental interests of our two peoples, but also contributes significantly to world peace and prosperity. China is ready to work with UK to strengthen their mutual trust, deepen cooperation in all areas, increase mutual understanding and raise the relations between the two countries to a new level. We look forward to Prime Minister Cameron’s first official visit to China later this year. We are confident that as long as we work together, our cooperation at all levels will be even more fruitful.

Finally, Ambassador Liu said that the Chinese people are extremely fond of the British Pavilion at Shanghai Expo, which has more than 60 thousand fibre-optic rods, containing 260 thousand seeds. When the Expo comes to an end, the rods will be distributed to the schools in China, and will sow the seeds of China-UK friendship and cooperation in the heart of the young people of the two countries. The younger generation is the hope as well as the future of China-UK relations.

Ambassador Liu’s remarks received a very warm round of applause from the guests, and the atmosphere of the function was friendly and warm.

(Secretary of State Hunt delivers a speech)

Secretary of State Hunt extended, on behalf the British government, warm congratulations on China’s National Day. He highly commended China’s achievements and believed that the country’s development is a major contribution to the entire world. He wished and believed China will achieve even greater success. Hunt said that the British government attaches great importance to its relations with China, the two countries share extensive common interests in many major international and regional issues, and UK is determined to work with China to further enhance the bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields and bring the UK-China relations to a new stage of development.

Hunt also recalled how he was generously helped by the ordinary Chinese people several years ago when he was travelling in China. He said that China has a long history and its people are kind and hospitable. The great success of the Beijing 2008 Olympics demonstrates to the world a modern and open China. He hoped that London, which shall host the 2012 Olympics, will be able to learn some valuable experience from China.

(Ambassador Liu talks with General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff and General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff)

At the reception, a photo exhibition of the National Day celebrations and the Shanghai World Expo was held and a film on China’s natural scenery was played. Greatly interested in the exhibition and video, the guests highly commended China’s achievements in development and believed that the photos were a true reflection on a civilized, open and progressive China. The guests expressed that Ambassador Liu’s remarks covered both China’s achievements and challenges, and enabled them to understand China in a more comprehensive and in-depth way. The guests held that the fact that many high-ranking officials were present at this reception has fully exemplified that the British side attaches great importance to the development of China-UK relations. The China-UK cooperation in various fields boasts great potentials, and all sectors in UK shall make concerted efforts to promote the bilateral relations to achieve even greater development.

(Ambassador Liu and Mme. Hu pose with Secretary of State Hunt and Mrs. Hunt and Chairman Hendrick and Mrs. Hendrick)