Icebreaking spirit needed now 'more than ever' for China-UK relations

China's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang said an icebreaking spirit is needed now "more than ever" for Sino-UK bilateral relations.

Zheng made the remark on Wednesday, in his keynote speech at "The Icebreakers" 2025 Chinese New Year celebration, an annual event hosted by the 48 Group, a London-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Sino-UK trade cooperation.

The group is named after a UK trade delegation of 48 businessmen, referred to as "The Icebreakers", who traveled to Beijing in 1953 to initiate trade ties with China, long before the two countries permitted the exchange of ambassadors in 1972.

"In this new age of changes and turbulence, China-UK relations have become even more important, both for the two countries and the world at large," Zheng said to nearly 500 guests representing the political, business and academic sectors of both China and the UK.

"And more than ever, we need to draw inspiration from the icebreaking spirit. Over recent months, there has been some progress in China-UK relations and we need to build upon that and keep up the momentum."

Following a meeting in November between President Xi Jinping and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brazil, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited China earlier this month.

During her visit, the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, or EFD, took place in Beijing, resulting in 69 mutually beneficial outcomes that cover a wide range of sectors, including financial regulations, capital markets, green finance, trade and investment, and agriculture.

A policy outcome paper for the EFD published by HM Treasury, the UK's economic and finance ministry, stated: "Both sides believe that as permanent members of the UN Security Council … there is mutual benefit and strategic importance to maintaining a durable, stable, and respectful relationship."

The last time the EFD was active was in 2019.

The ambassador called for joint efforts to "earnestly" follow through on the common understanding reached by the leaders of the two countries, and to "faithfully" implement the EFD outcomes.

"We should also restart dialogue and collaboration in other areas, including new energy, artificial intelligence, science and technology, trade, education, and also international and regional issues," he said.

Noting the ongoing geopolitical turbulence marked by the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, the ambassador also highlighted China's achievements, as well as its commitments, in maintaining steady economic growth, advancing green transformation, and opening its doors wider to the world.

"Major reforms will continue to be rolled out," he said, adding that a "more proactive" fiscal policy and an "appropriately accommodative" monetary policy will be applied, and that domestic consumption and demand will also be "vigorously" boosted.

"We will keep up our efforts to fight climate change … We will continue to observe the goals and principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Climate Agreement," Zheng said. "We will expand high-standard opening-up and foster a market-oriented and law-based business environment up to international standards."

And Zheng added that, during 2025, "we need more icebreakers in this new age, in each and every sector".

zhengwanyin@mail.chinadailyuk.com