– Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Sixth Annual CBBC China Business Conference

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, 14 March 2018

Lord Sassoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends:

Good morning!

It is a real pleasure to join you at the sixth Annual CBBC China Business Conference. This is a grand event for business communities of our two countries. I attach great importance to this event. During previous conferences, I sent video messages to the Conference as I was on official duty in China. But as long as I am here in London, I always attend in person. Today, I am honored to attend this annual conference for the second time. I look forward to joining you to explore opportunities and work out plans for the future of China-UK business cooperation.

Lord Sassoon told me, the theme of this year's conference is "China and the UK: A Relationship for a New Era". I believe there is no better theme than this for the Conference at this time. Indeed, new era is the theme of the day. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. China-UK "Golden Era" has begun a new phase of accelerated development. The world has stepped into a new period of profound and complex changes in the international landscape. In my view, there are three main features that define this new era.

First, this is a new era for China's new journey of development. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, The Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was defined, The blueprint for China's future development was outlined, And the direction for the future of the country was identified. Right now, at the sessions of the 13th National People's Congress and the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, the Constitutional revision has been adopted. Its adoption has confirmed the various goals for the new era outlined at the 19th CPC Congress in the form of the fundamental law of the state.

In this new era, China will remain committed to the new development philosophy. This means high-quality development. It requires us to put quality first, give priority to efficiency, and advance supply-side structural reform in order to develop a modernized economy and address the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development. China will advance reform and opening-up, and modernize its governance system and capacity. This means deeper economic, financial and social reforms. China will encourage innovation across the country, and make innovation a driving force for our economic growth.

China will put people first in its development. No one will be left behind. The benefits of development will be shared by every Chinese and give people a strong sense of achievement and happiness. China will step up poverty alleviation by focusing on the most needy. The target for 2018 is helping over 10 million rural people out of poverty, and the goal for 2020 is to eliminate poverty in all poor counties and regions, and to help all rural residents living below the current poverty line get rid of poverty. China will pursue green development, strengthen pollution prevention and control, and build a beautiful country with blue sky, green land and clear water.

Second, this is a new era for diverse growth models of various countries. In China, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. This not only contributes to the treasure house of systems and governance experience of mankind. It also blazed a new trail for other developing countries to achieve modernization. In the UK, amid critical Brexit negotiations, the UK is committed to building a "global Britain" as it seeks to reshape its relations with the EU and the world. In this new era, it is all the more important that countries respect each other's social systems and development paths, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns. It is important that countries with different development models could complement each other and strive for common development.

Third, this is a new era for a new mindset and new ideas. The world is undergoing profound changes and transformation unseen for hundreds of years. Peace and development remains the theme of the times. However, the surging unilateralism and populism, and the emergence of protectionism, even trade wars, are serious causes for concern. In a world where all countries share the same future and common interests, old mindsets such as "zero-sum game", "I win you lose" and "the winner takes all" are outdated and should have been discarded long ago.

In this new era, We need to adopt new thoughts and a new mindset. We need to blaze a new path for state-to-state relations, and build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. We need to build a community with a shared future for mankind. And we aspire for an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.