Ambassador, mayor praise UK-China ties

China's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Zheng Zeguang made his first official visit to Birmingham, England, on Wednesday, where he met the city's lord mayor, and encouraged local Chinese communities to continue promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries.

During his meeting with Lord Mayor of Birmingham Chaman Lal, Zheng said China and Birmingham have broad cooperation potential and prospects.

Birmingham, as an important industrial and commercial center in the UK, has seen achievements in the field of technological innovation, financial services, sports, education, culture, and more, while China is prioritizing the transformation to a greener and digitalized future, as part of its pursuit of high-quality development, the ambassador highlighted.

Birmingham grew quickly during the Industrial Revolution, with a series of innovations that laid many of the foundations of modern industrial society. The Watt steam engine, for example, was invented in the city.

Birmingham now has a strong presence in the UK's manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Lal said he looked forward to resuming face-to-face contact with Birmingham's partner cities in China: Changchun, Guangzhou, and Nanjing.

The lord mayor especially thanked East China's Nanjing for offering help to Birmingham during the COVID-19 pandemic, which Birmingham City Council said included the donation of 30,000 face masks during May 2020.

Both Zheng and Lal said economic cooperation and cultural exchanges can be improved between China and Birmingham.

Zheng told the leaders of Birmingham's Chinese communities that the lord mayor spoke highly of their contribution to the city's development and thanked them for donating masks to the city during its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"You have been promoting cultural understanding and bridging pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and I gave you my highest regard for your achievement," Zheng told them in a speech at a welcome event hosted by local Chinese societies.

With travel restrictions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic lifted, face-to-face exchanges have become more frequent and Zheng said he has recently received a dozen Chinese delegations visiting the UK to promote business cooperation. He said he has also seen a number of British delegations, including from the government, companies, and universities headed for China.

"They all think dialogue and cooperation can bring tangible benefits for the peoples of China and the UK," said Zheng. "China's UK policy has been clear and consistent; that is, to develop healthy and stable bilateral relations based on mutual respect and noninterference of each other's domestic affairs … We cannot advance the relations without the support and participation of Chinese societies in the UK, so I encourage you to keep on telling China stories, promoting win-win cooperation, and advocating friendly exchanges."

Qiu Baixi, honorary president of the Birmingham branch of the Overseas Chinese Association, which was founded in the 1960s, echoed the ambassador's comments, saying the 60,000 Chinese people in the city have always embraced their Chinese heritage, promoted Chinese culture, and contributed to local society.

Li Ming, chairman of the Birmingham Chinese Business Union, said overseas Chinese represent China in many ways because they shape the nation's image during their daily interactions with British people.

"We introduce the real situation in China to our British friends, businesspeople, and even lawmakers, and tell them that China is not like what the Western media has often reported and politicized," said Li.

Huang Anping, the owner of a bakery and milk tea shop in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter, said Chinese milk tea has grown in popularity during the past five years, despite recent tensions between the two countries.

"China's development and cultural influence has definitely boosted our sales," said Huang, who moved to Birmingham in 2006. "With good business, we pay more tax and can create more jobs for the city."

Zheng Wanyin contributed to this story.