On 24 January 2025, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and his wife Counsellor Hua Mei, hosted a Chinese New Year reception at the Embassy. More than 400 guests from various sectors including representatives from the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions, and Chinese students attended the event.
In his remarks, Ambassador Zheng extended Chinese New Year greetings to the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions, and Chinese students in the UK, and to friends from all walks of life who follow and support the development of China-UK relations.
He pointed out that in the past year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has shown confidence, resolve, and taken practical actions, and made solid gains in advancing Chinese modernisation.
The economy rebounded and made progress, with the GDP exceeding 130 trillion yuan for the first time, and a year-on-year increase of 5%. Efforts to cultivate new quality productive forces meant that new business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging.
The annual output of new energy vehicles exceeded 10 million units for the first time. Both trade in goods and services reached new highs. New headway was achieved in green and low-carbon development. New achievements were made in science and technology, education, culture, public health, sports, and national defense.
China has injected stability and development momentum into a turbulent world through its own stable development.
In the new year, facing the turbulent and changing international situation, China will continue to respond to external shocks and resolve risks and challenges with confidence, resolve, and practical actions.
We will go all out to implement decisions of the third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee to further deepen comprehensive reform, and put to action decisions of the Central Economic Work Conference, further intensify macro policies, and adopt a more proactive fiscal policy and an appropriately accommodative monetary policy.
We will vigorously boost domestic consumption and demand, and make sure our foreign trade and inbound investment will grow steadily, so as to effectively pursue higher-quality economic growth and appropriately increase economic output.
We will expand high-standard opening-up and foster a market-oriented and law-based business environment up to international standards.
We will stay the course of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and break new ground in advancing major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
All in all, these endeavours will contribute to the building of a great country and to rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Ambassador Zheng noted that with joint efforts of both sides, there has been new progress in China-UK relations. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer had a successful meeting in Brazil, pointing the way forward for the development of bilateral ties.
It is hoped that the UK will work in the same direction with China, earnestly follow through on the important common understandings between leaders of the two countries, uphold the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and strive for stable and mutually-beneficial China-UK relations.
Ambassador Zheng congratulated the Chinese community, Chinese-funded institutions and Chinese students on their outstanding achievements in the past year, and expressed hope that everyone would continue to carry forward the fine traditions of Chinese civilisation, demonstrate the sense of purpose, fortitude, and self-belief of the Chinese people, and continue to work hard and help each other.
He called upon them to strive to contribute to Chinese modernisation, promote national reunification, advance China-UK cooperation, and present the Chinese culture, and take practical actions to contribute to the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples.
Mr Chu Ting Tang OBE, Chairperson of London Chinatown Chinese Asscociation, Mr Fang Wenjian, Chairman of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and Mr Zhong Shaohong, a Chinese student studying in the UK, spoke on behalf of the guests. Encouraged by the great achievements made by the motherland, they all expressed readiness to make new contributions to enhancing the friendly exchanges and mutually-beneficial cooperation between the Chinese and British peoples.
The reception venue was adorned with lights and colourful decorations, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere. The Embassy presented guests with a "Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner" and Chinese New Year gifts. Participants said that coming to the Embassy for a gathering felt like coming home for the Chinese New Year, and extended wishes for a great and prosperous China and hopes for the stable development of China-UK relations.