LONDON, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Britain are mutually beneficial partners and the development of China-Britain relations serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said.
"We have a thousand reasons to make this relationship successful, and not one to let it fail," said Liu at a special on-line reception on Monday to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1.
The past 71 years have witnessed remarkable progress in China-Britain relations despite ups and downs, said Liu.
Especially in the past decade or more, trade between the two countries doubled, Chinese investment in Britain increased 20 times, annual mutual visits reached two million and the number of Chinese students studying in Britain nearly doubled and increased from 120,000 to 220,000, Liu noted.
At present, Britain is China's third largest trading partner and second largest investment destination in Europe. Meanwhile, China is Britain's third largest export market for goods, he added.
To make this relationship successful, Liu said it is of great importance that both China and Britain abide by three principles:
First, the two countries should respect each other and maintain the political foundation of China-Britain relations, while observing the basic principles governing international relations, especially the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
"Otherwise, the relation would suffer setbacks or even retrogression," Liu said.
Second, China and Britain should pursue mutually beneficial outcomes and expand their common interests, he said.
In the "post-pandemic" and "post-Brexit" era, China and Britain have huge potential for cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, education, public health and other fields, Liu noted.
Third, China and Britain should properly manage differences and keep China-Britain relations moving in the right direction, Liu said.
The ambassador said that China and Britain differ in social system, history, culture and national conditions. However, the two countries have more consensus than differences and need cooperation more than competition.
The two sides should always remain rational and mature, stand on the right side of history, oppose the so-called "new cold war" and "decoupling" rhetoric, engage in communication and dialogues, reduce and eliminate the "understanding deficit" and the "trust deficit", and continue accumulating and expanding consensus, said the ambassador.
"We should overcome the current difficulties, bring the relationship back on the right track at an early date, and deliver more benefits to our two countries and beyond," Liu said. Enditem
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