Cooperation vital to solving problems

China's opening-up efforts and high-quality development benefit both its domestic market and foreign countries, and cooperation rather than isolation is how countries should seek to jointly identify problems, possibilities and solutions, Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group, and CEO of London Export Corporation, said on Thursday.

Continuing a 70-year tradition of getting to know China better and seeking cooperation with the nation, Perry said the speed of China's growth is significant, and the focus of the country's leadership is high-quality development, high-level opening-up and new quality productive forces, which are not just words but also a statement and a window into China's forward thinking for the future.

In 1952, Perry's grandfather, Jack Perry Senior, started trade relations in China with a line of credit from Bank of China. In 1953, he led a delegation on an icebreaker mission to the country and signed a trade agreement for 30 million pounds ($38.18 million) in Beijing. The next year, the 48 Group was officially established.

While the practices of isolationism and restrictions in areas such as the semiconductor industry have emerged in global trade and investment, Perry said that China is maintaining its opening-up efforts, pushing high-quality development and extending welcoming hands to the outside world for cooperation, which is significant for the country and the world.

"The fundamental reason that people work with China is that they have their hands out wanting to learn and wanting to help the Chinese people as well as benefit other countries and businesses," Perry said.

"If you focus on high-quality development, that means that you're trying to be a player in tomorrow's industries," he said.

As China focuses on high-quality development, the 48 Group has invested in artificial intelligence technologies and has expressed faith in China's future, he added.

Acknowledging China's vision of high-quality development and high-level opening-up, he expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation with China in seeking possibilities and solving problems.

"My biggest gift in life is to have a relationship with China," said Perry, who is making efforts to develop young icebreakers to act as bridges to strengthen connections and cooperation with China.

Tan Guoling contributed to this story.