Speech by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Opening Reception of Beijing Culture Week
Garden Room, Barbican Centre, London, 26 July 2012
Mr. Liu Qi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Vice Mayor of Beijing Mr. Liu Jingmin, Vice Chairman of BODA Mr. Jiang Xiaoyu, Deputy Mayor Munira Mirza, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I warmly congratulate the opening in London of the Beijing Culture Week 2012. I am also delighted to welcome all of you to this event! Beijing Culture Week is of special significance for several reasons. First, it embodies Beijing’s very best wishes to London. In 24 hours, the much anticipated Games of the (thirtieth) XXX Olympiad will be staged in London. We all have strong memories of the last summer Olympic in Beijing. Handing the Olympic ‘torch’ from Beijing to London has greatly deepened the links between these two leading world cities. So, a Beijing Culture Week at this time, and in London, is most fitting. It is a symbol of how Beijing wishes the London Olympic Games a stunning success. It will also add to the cultural celebration. Second, Beijing Culture Week is another key event in China-UK cultural exchanges. This year has already seen many highlights in our cultural links. These include: · The China Market Focus at the London Book Fair · The East Meets West concert starring Ms Song Zuying, Mr. Lang Lang and Mr. Bocelli. · And in Beijing, and across China, the UK Now cultural project is also delivering many exciting events. This shows that our cultural agenda has tremendous thrust. The Beijing Culture Week will undoubtedly give our exchanges even more momentum. Third, Beijing Culture Week will be a major milestone in the friendly relations between Beijing and London. It will bring here more than 500 artists, actors and actresses and business leaders from China. This strong cultural team is about the size of the Chinese Olympic delegation. Such a strong cultural team from Beijing is going to deliver a kaleidoscope of activities. The very substantial programme will showcase an exciting, colorful and creative Beijing. I am convinced Beijing Culture Week will boost understanding, cooperation and friendship between Beijing and London. In conclusion, I wish Beijing Culture Week a great success! I wish London Olympic Games the very best of Luck! Thank you!
Speech by H. E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Launch of ICBC London New Office
23 April 2012
2012/04/24
Sir David Brewer,
Mr. Stephen Perry,
Mr. Yang Kaisheng, Vice Chairman and President of ICBC Group,
Madame Wang Lili, Chairman of ICBC London, Distinguished Guests,
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in London, I wish to offer my warm congratulations on the launch of the new ICBC London office!
This is the fourth time that I have attended the launch of new office buildings of Chinese companies in London since I came here more than two years ago. This is highly encouraging for me because it shows Chinese companies in the UK have made huge progress. It also forecasts a bright future for China-UK financial cooperation.
As they get stronger, many Chinese companies are making an all-out effort to go global. For these businesses Britain is highly attractive. The UK is acclaimed as the world’s centre of finance, information and innovation. In addition, Chinese companies are attracted to the sound investment environment that the UK offers to foreign businesses.
The latest figures show a clear trend.
In 2011 Chinese companies invested in 59 projects in Britain, making China the 6th largest investor of the UK. These
investments have created more than 1,400 British jobs.
The financial sector is a top priority for Chinese companies making investments in the UK. A good example is that China’s ‘big five’ commercial banks (Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, ICBC, Construction Bank of China, Bank of Communications) have all opened branches or subsidiaries in London. I hope that more Chinese companies will either open branches or new offices in the UK.
The large presence of Chinese companies and their growing investment here speak volumes about their confidence in China-UK economic cooperation. This confidence is underpinned by a strong overall bilateral relationship.
This year marks the 40th year of China-UK full diplomatic relations. Over the past 40 years, our economic partnership has gone far beyond trade. It now covers investment, technology cooperation and joint research. We are glad that such booming cooperation has generated huge benefits for both sides.
Both Chinese and British governments attach great importance to our economic cooperation. This is signified by recent visits of senior Chinese leaders. Last week there were two high level visitors:
· First, was member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Mr. Li Changchun.
· And second, was Chinese State Councillor, Madame Liu Yandong.
They were here to strengthen cultural links between our peoples. An equally important goal of their visits was to advance China-UK cooperation in trade and investment areas.
I am confident that the further restructuring and upgrading of our respective economies will create even greater opportunities for China-UK cooperation.
ICBC now ranks as a major global business. In 1999, for the first time, ICBC became one of the Fortune 500 companies. Since then, it has kept moving up the rankings. Last year, ICBC reached the 77th place. This is the highest position among all Chinese banks.
ICBC is also the world’s top bank in terms of market capitalization, profit and the size of deposits. Because of all this, it has an impressive brand value of over 44 billion US dollars.
ICBC (London) was opened in 2003. In less than 10 years, it has grown into a highly regarded and international commercial bank in the City of London. This is no mean feat.
This office is located in the heart of the City of London. We are surrounded by buildings that remind us of the history and heritage that have created the world’s leading financial centre. As I travelled into the City of London today these traditions made me think of the values of ICBC and its motto, which is: Accomplishment through integrity and progress through actions.
In conclusion, I wish ICBC (London) even greater success!
Your Excellency Ambassador Joao Manuel Bernardo, Acting Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps,
Diplomatic Envoys,
Scholars,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to attend the launching ceremony of the China-Africa Joint Research and Exchange Program. This year marks the beginning of the second decade of the new century, and the 10th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). At this important moment, we should build on the past and work for the future. It is therefore of great significance for us to gather here for discussions on how to promote China-Africa cooperation. On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations on the launch of the Program and a warm welcome to all diplomatic envoys, experts, scholars and in particular, our African friends who have travelled a long way to come here.
I have been to more than 20 African countries and witnessed the development of Africa in the past two decades. The African continent is a land of promise, attracting increasing attention of the world. China and Africa have had similar historical experiences. The Chinese people cherish deep affection towards Africa. Our friendship with the African people is sincere and profound. China was, is and will always be Africa's good friend,
good partner and good brother. Africa and China need each other more than ever in the 21st century.
Our world is undergoing major and profound changes at a fast pace. In this changing world, both China and Africa are important rising forces and face unprecedented
opportunities and challenges. Today, closer China-Africa exchanges and cooperation has become all the more important. Premier Wen Jiabao proposed the China-Africa Joint Research and Exchange Program at the fourth ministerial conference of FOCAC. The Program has come as an important result of FOCAC expansion. It meets the need of the ever-growing China-Africa relations and is an important move to strengthen popular support for China-Africa friendship and deepen the new type of strategic partnership between us under the new situation.
The age we live in has entrusted Chinese and African scholars with a new mission, and has provided better opportunities and created more space for academic exchanges
between our two sides. I sincerely hope that with your deep love for Africa and China, you will get actively involved in the Program, promote mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and African people and advance China-Africa relations. I hope you will be the brains and builders of China-Africa relations.
I expect the Program to:
First, draw up a master plan for China-Africa relations. Both China and Africa are
developing and changing, but the foundation of China-Africa cooperation remains intact and as strong as ever. Our relationship has become more important. If we are to keep China-Africa cooperation – a mega project that benefits over two billion people – on a sound track under the new circumstances, then we must put our relationship in a broader context of a multi-polar and globalized world. We need to always bear in mind the
long-term well-being of the Chinese and African people and stay committed to promoting our friendship under all circumstances.
Second, explore ways for win-win cooperation. What should China and Africa do to
achieve still greater development, while the international economic system is undergoing a reform? What should we do to uphold our common interests while tackling climate change and other global issues? What should we do to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes against the backdrop of economic globalization? These are new questions for us. Our cooperation has a solid political foundation and complementary economic structures. We should make the best of these advantages and come up with concrete, result-oriented recommendations and measures for our cooperation.
Third, increase and broaden cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Amity between people holds the key to sound relations between states. There have been growing
exchanges between our people over recent years. Ebony wood carvings and copperplate engraving from Africa are fashionable decorations in Chinese households. Chinese martial arts and acrobatics are widely popular among African friends. I encourage our scholars to deploy your strengths in enhancing cultural and people-to-people
exchanges-to visit each other and talk to each other, and to show the African people a real and changing China and show the Chinese people a promising and vibrant Africa.
Fourth, urge the international community to give greater attention and support to Africa. The repercussions of the international financial crisis on the African economies have made the attainment of MDGs a more daunting task for Africa. More thoughts need to be given to the subject of African development in a post-crisis era, especially how to help Africa enhance its "blood-making" capacity while "transfusing blood" to it.
Fifth, be pragmatic. We need to focus on new developments, new issues and new
patterns. Our research should be objective and impartial, based on the merits of a matter
per se. We should step up sharing of governance experience and groom our young people to work for China-Africa friendship and pass it from generation to generation. Last but not least, I hope that more and more friends will contribute to and participate in the Program in various forms and support and promote academic exchanges between China and Africa.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
China-Africa friendship has a history of a thousand years and China-Africa cooperation is becoming a paradigm of South-South cooperation. Such friendship and cooperation are bound to have an even brighter future. As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, let us join hands to steadily upgrade our new type of strategic partnership and cooperation in a changing world and work tirelessly for the benefit of our people and for common development.
Thank you.