The China International Import Expo has come to London, offering UK businesses a helping hand in trading with China.  

In a hotel in Central London, the great and the good of British industry rubbed shoulders with their Chinese counterparts, drumming up contacts and nurturing relationships.

Leading the delegation from Beijing is China's Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao.  

He's in town ahead of the 15th UK–China Joint Economic and Trade Commission - or JETCO, his visit seen as a sign of the deepening bonds between China and the UK.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations over fifty years ago," he told a packed audience, "our bilateral economic and trade ties have developed steadily and healthily, grounded in pragmatic cooperation and mutual benefit. In 2025, bilateral trade in goods has surpassed $100 billion, and trade in services has exceeded $30 billion."

These words were echoed by his UK counterpart, Trade Minister, Peter Kyle.

"Serious engagement is back," he said. "By working together and talking together, both of our nations will prosper."

China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, reminded the delegates that this is a special anniversary year, as China celebrates the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. 

And with the outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent visit to Beijing still fresh in people’s minds, the feeling among many attendees was that there's never been a better time for China and the UK to nurture those relationships, deepen that understanding and forge those friendships.

The CEO of Brompton, Will Butler-Adams told CGTN: "There's no doubt that the Prime Minister's visit to China is creating another level of momentum.  And I think that there is a feeling that there is opportunity and positivity on both sides to actually trade, to do things, to actually get things happening."

The sentiment was shared by Linda Li, the head of Top Ideal who told CGTN: "The gathering today is full of energy. Business people from China and the UK are all very excited. We are very interested and also hopeful of this booming market which can be worth hundreds of billions of dollars."

But it's not just the money that's being discussed here today, over coffee and cake. There's a renewed sense of collaboration, of friendship - and a sense of optimism that the future for trade between the two nations has never looked brighter.