Chinese FM meets former British PM on bilateral ties, Israel-Iran conflict

China

Chinese FM meets former British PM on bilateral ties, Israel-Iran conflict

2025-06-24 04:15 Last Updated At：17:57

Chinese Foreign Minster Wang Yi on Monday met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Britain must fulfill their international obligations, demonstrate responsibility and commitment, and contribute to global peace and development.

Last year, the leaders of the two countries talked over phone and held talks, steering bilateral relations onto a trajectory of improvement and development, Wang said, noting that China welcomes Britain's commitment to a consistent, long-term China policy grounded in mutual respect.

China stands ready to work with Britain to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance exchanges across sectors, deepen mutual understanding, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-Britain relations, Wang said.

Blair said that attempts to isolate China are doomed to fail as the world needs greater understanding of China, noting that the two sides should strengthen dialogue at government levels and across social sectors, while conducting extensive mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve sustained and sound bilateral development.

On the Israel-Iran conflict, Wang said that differences between countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation, noting that Israel's preemptive strike on Iran on the grounds of "potential future threats" and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency sent a wrong signal to the world by advocating force over dialogue in resolving disputes, and set a dangerous precedent with significant consequences.

All parties to the conflict are urged to take measures to de-escalate tensions and return to negotiations for political settlement to restore peace and stability in the Middle East, Wang added.

Blair said that Britain is deeply concerned about the Israel-Iran conflict and calls for diplomatic engagement through dialogue to swiftly return to negotiations, achieving a prompt recovery to the regional peace, security, and stability.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.