Seventy three years after its establishment, the People's Republic of China is building on firm foundations to improve its cooperation with the UK across the fields of sport, business, science and education, the country's ambassador in London has said.

In a speech ahead of China's National Day holiday, Zheng Zeguang said his country has witnessed enormous changes in recent decades and, having lifted hundreds of millions of its own citizens out of poverty, was also working to improve the lives of people around the world.

"China in the new era is embracing a bright future. We are ready to work with people of vision in the UK to strengthen the bridge of bilateral exchanges and preserve the foundation of cooperation, so that we can create more benefits for the peoples of both countries," he told an audience of more than 600 politicians, business people, civic leaders and members of the media. 

There are 200,000 Chinese students in UK and China and Britain traded $50 billion in goods in the first half of 2022, the ambassador said.

He highlighted academic and sporting exchanges as examples of how individuals could benefit from the ties between the two, especially following the resumption of direct flights last month. A number of Chinese and British artists performed as part of a ceremony accompanying the speech.

Tough times

This year marks the 50th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between the UK and China but relations have deteriorated since the so-called "golden era" in the middle of the last decade.

China's president Xi Jinping sent his condolences to the UK's King Charles III over the death of his mother and vice president Wang Qishan attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. However, Britain's new prime minister Liz Truss has indicated she sees the country as a threat.

Ambassador Zheng said the countries should focus on areas of mutual benefit and avoid interfering in domestic affairs such as Beijing's policies regarding Taiwan and Hong Kong.

"We will never accept any meddling in China's internal affairs from outside forces," he said in his speech.

Speaking at the event on behalf of the British government, foreign office minister Gillian Keegan thanked China for its response to the death of the British queen and expressed hope the two countries could work together to tackle climate change and global health threats, according to a press release from the Chinese embassy.