Icebreaking spirit highlighted at Chinese New Year gathering in London

Nearly 500 guests representing the political, business, and academic sectors of both China and the United Kingdom gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the legacy of the historic icebreaking mission that opened Sino-British trade ties, as well as the recent upward trend in bilateral relations.

The event was hosted as it is each year by the 48 Group, a London-based non-profit organization named in 1954 after a UK trade delegation of 48 businessmen, referred to as "The Icebreakers", who traveled to Beijing to initiate trade ties with China, breaking a trade embargo that Western countries had placed on the country.

In a congratulatory message to this year's "The Icebreakers" Chinese New Year celebration, Vice-President Han Zheng expressed hope that friends from all sectors in China and the UK will continue to uphold the icebreaking spirit, characterized by great courage and forward-looking wisdom, to promote mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation.

"Looking back, the pioneering icebreaking spirit that features vision, openness, and cooperation has driven China-UK relations to move forward for more than 70 years, and looking ahead, China-UK cooperation has great prospects and enormous potential," Han said in the letter.

"China is ready to work with the UK to jointly implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries," Han also said.

China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, attended the event and read the vice-president's letter to attendees.

Zheng said the icebreaking spirit is needed now "more than ever" to build upon and keep up the good momentum in China-UK relations.

In November, President Xi Jinping and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brazil, marking the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the two nations since 2018.

Earlier this month, during UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' visit to China, the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue was held in Beijing after a six-year hiatus, resulting in 69 win-win outcomes.

"In this new age of changes and turbulence, China-UK relations have become even more important, both for the two countries and the world at large," Zheng highlighted.

Jack Perry Junior, chairman of the 48 Group, reflected on the journey of his grandfather, Jack Perry Senior, who pioneered trade with China in the 1950s, which he described as an "enduring reminder of the importance of breaking barriers and forging partnerships".

"We must honor this legacy by remembering it and continuing to build upon it," he said.

Noting that a "very big door" has been opened in China-UK relations, he said the potential for advanced collaboration is vast.

"The relationship between the UK and China is one of unparalleled expertise, resilience, and longevity, and, together, we can build a future of shared success and prosperity," he said.

He also revealed to China Daily that 2025 will be another year of action, with the group preparing to launch a membership drive in China, to give Chinese businesses more direct access to the UK market.

"If you're clever, you join hands with China, you try to adapt, and you try to work through things together," he said.

Fang Wenjian, chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and general manager of the Bank of China London Branch, introduced the Chinese zodiac's snake to the audience, describing it as a creature that symbolizes renewal and reinvention because it grows by shedding its skin.

Noting that both 1953, the year when "The Icebreakers" embarked on their courageous journey to China, and 2025 are the Year of the Snake, Fang underscored the importance of looking forward.

"I sincerely hope that the spring of China-UK relations will arrive soon," he said.

Sherard Cowper-Coles, chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, said his zhong ying meng (China-Britain dream) is now becoming a reality.

"It is now a reality in which the leaders of the two countries had two proper conversations in the last six months, a reality in which both the foreign secretary and the chancellor of the exchequer had paid productive visits to China," he said "(It is a) reality in which we have the prospect of many more such encounters and exchanges in both directions, in the weeks and months ahead … a reality in which we, at last, have the political courage and common sense to cooperate in our mutual interests, building on firm foundations of shared goals and experience."

He said the UK and China are connecting not only because it is good for "the profits of scores of British and Chinese enterprises, large or small" but also because it is beneficial to have a "free exchange between two great nations of goods, services, and ideas".

"In the end, it's about the health, wealth, and happiness of our two peoples," he added.

zhengwanyin@mail.chinadailyuk.com