International: The closing ceremony of the China–UK Business Council Conference was held on Thursday afternoon, January 29, in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the event and delivered speeches. More than 110 representatives from Chinese and British companies and institutions participated in the conference.

Premier Li Qiang stated that China and the United Kingdom are important economic and trade partners with extensive shared interests. As long as both sides uphold the principle of mutual respect, move forward in the same direction, engage in open cooperation, and remove unnecessary interference, they can achieve win-win outcomes and create shared prosperity. At present, the rise of unilateralism, protectionism, and geopolitical tensions is exerting severe pressure on the global economy and corporate development. Against this backdrop, Li emphasized that China and the UK should maintain an “ice-breaking” spirit and strengthen cooperative relations. This, he noted, is not only a rational choice for addressing risks and promoting common development, but also a moral responsibility for China and the UK, as major countries, to contribute to solving global challenges.

Li Qiang noted that over the past year, China’s economy has continued to move forward despite significant pressures, achieving positive and high-quality development while demonstrating remarkable resilience and vitality. This year, China will begin implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan. Over the next five years, China’s economy is expected to reach new heights, further optimize its structure, and continuously enhance growth momentum—developments that will also create vast opportunities for China–UK cooperation.

He proposed that companies from both countries strengthen cooperation by focusing on four key areas. First, expanding “new growth drivers” for bilateral trade, particularly by developing trade in services as a new engine of cooperation. Second, cultivating “new engines” for innovation-driven development by empowering each other in fields such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, biomedicine, and high-end manufacturing. Third, exploring new pathways for trilateral cooperation, especially by deepening collaboration in Global South markets. Fourth, invigorating “new vitality” in cultural exchanges by creating more popular brands and projects for the peoples of both countries, thereby generating both economic value and stronger people-to-people connections. Li added that the Chinese government is willing to create a favorable environment for cooperation between companies and exchanges between the two peoples.

Prime Minister Starmer said that he led a delegation of more than 60 British representatives from the business, cultural, and industrial sectors on this visit to China with the aim of gaining a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the country, seizing greater opportunities for cooperation, benefiting the British people, and contributing to national development. He noted that the UK and China are both major global economies with broad shared interests. The British government, he said, is willing to develop a long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership with China based on mutual trust and respect, and on the principle of seeking common ground while managing differences. The UK hopes to deepen cooperation with China across various levels and fields, including communication, trade, investment, finance, technology, and culture, and to work together to address global challenges. Starmer expressed hope that companies from both countries would seize opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and deliver greater benefits to their peoples.

Source: Tuhina-Hashim-Swarna, China Media Group.