The Chinese ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, has written a letter in the Financial Times newspaper defending Sino-UK educational ties, after a British parliamentary report suggested "interference" with academic freedoms at British universities. 

Liu said China is "committed to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and respects academic freedom." He pointed to the 100,000 Chinese students currently in the UK, the growing numbers of British pupils learning Mandarin at schools and the network of Confucius Institutes in the UK. 

He added that academic exchanges and contact between UK and Chinese students and academics should be seen as normal diplomatic or consular activities. 

But Liu also warned against "stoking ideological prejudice," after the report from the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee alleged pressure was put on British academics at universities that have partnerships with Chinese counterparts. 

The ambassador highlighted the British government's recent policy shifts, extending the post-study work period allowed to two years (from six months), and the publication in March of a new International Education Strategy paper. He wrote that, for these policies to be effective and for British institutions to maintain their world-leading position, the UK "should display leadership in continuing to promote co-operation."

Along with substantial student mobility between the two countries, Liu noted educational products and services are a significant part of Sino-UK trade, with The British Educational Suppliers Association recently identifying Chinese demand for British education products.