China stands ready to work with the United Kingdom (UK) to turn the vast potential of bilateral cooperation into real progress and open up new prospects for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said at the "Export to China" UK Session in London on Wednesday.
In his speech at the event, the Chinese minister said economic and trade cooperation between China and the UK continues to be deepened, with both sides upholding multilateralism and free trade.
Noting the UK is China's third-largest trading partner in Europe, and China is the UK's largest trading partner in Asia, Wang said that the two countries complement each other's industrial advantages and enjoy two-way flow of market resources.
"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UK over 50 years ago, the development of our bilateral economic and trade ties has maintained sound and steady growth on the basis of pragmatic cooperation and mutual benefit. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods surpassed 100 billion U.S. dollars, and trade in services exceeded 30 billion dollars. Ladies and gentlemen, both China and the UK uphold multilateralism and free trade," he said.
The Chinese minister expressed the hope that British companies will actively participate in the "Export to China" series of events and the ninth China International Import Expo scheduled for later this year to engage in in-depth negotiations with Chinese enterprises, continue to expand the areas of China-UK trade cooperation, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly create a new chapter in China-UK economic and trade cooperation.
On the same occasion, British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle, said the two countries can prosper together through cooperation and dialogue.
"We want to keep momentum going, strengthening our work together in the areas that will benefit us both, and opening up new ways for our businesses to work together, to grow together, and to learn from each other. Serious engagement is back. By working together and talking together, both of our nations will prosper," he said. "I think that there is a feeling that there is opportunity and positivity on both sides to actually trade, to do things, and get things happening," said Will Butler-Adams, CEO of British bicycle manufacturer Brompton.
That sentiment was echoed by Linda Li, CEO of Top Ideal, a Chinese logistics service provider.
"The gathering today is full of energy. Business people from China and the UK are all very excited. We are very interested and also hopeful of this booming market between the two countries which can be worth hundreds of billions of dollars," she said.
The event was co-organized by China's Ministry of Commerce and the UK's Department for Business and Trade, bringing together officials, business leaders from both countries and representatives of Chinese and British companies.
China ready to work with UK to turn vast potential of bilateral cooperation into real progress: commerce minister
As the Communist Party of China (CPC) marks its 105th anniversary, international figures said its record offers lessons for political parties and governance worldwide.
Foreign officials highlighted guiding principles behind the CPC’s success. Being rooted in the people, upholding sovereignty, maintaining a long‑term vision, and pursuing self‑renewal best capture the essence of its achievements, said Sergei Syrankov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus.
"The first word is 'people-oriented.' This term is chosen because the entire governing logic of the CPC is subordinated to its original mission of serving the people. The second word is 'sovereignty.' Sovereignty symbolizes the unique model of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPC has forever broken the false stereotype that modernization can only be achieved by following the Western path, giving developing countries, including Belarus, the intellectual freedom and confidence to pursue their own paths based on their traditions and national interests," said Sergei Syrankov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Belarus.
International experts noted that under the CPC's leadership, China has consistently acted as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order, injecting new energy into global prosperity and working with other nations to shape a brighter future for humanity.
Echoing this view, Emin Gasimov, director of the Azerbaijani Center for Study of Culture, Development, and Global Initiative, stressed the CPC’s global role.
"China's strength relies not only on its economy and technology, but also on the CPC's continual self-strengthening, which has made it a political force with strategic vision and a sense of historical responsibility, a choice rightly made by the Chinese people. Today, the role of the CPC can no longer be viewed solely within the framework of the nation. Its experience has become increasingly important to global discussions on development paths, equitable governance, and the future of human civilization. If we see the four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping as the international extension of the Chinese modernization, it becomes clear that China not only seeks to share its domestic successes with the world, but also aims to present a broader vision for all humanity, a vision for a just, equal, and sustainable future," said Gasimov.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, addressed a gathering in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the anniversary, drawing praise from foreign officials. They said China's development philosophy and practices are shaping solutions for the world.
"We look to China to tap on their innovation - how they do it, what kind of models are they applying, what kind of evidence-base, because no development happens without research and evidence, because to innovate you have to consistently try and test models of innovation for it to be tried and said, 'this is a best practice model.' And it inspires us," said Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, deputy minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, South Africa.
International figures hail CPC for global governance lessons
