The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom held a reception in London on Friday night to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, coinciding with China's traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang extended Mid-Autumn Festival blessings to all present. He then outlined China's domestic progress and its significant contributions to global development over the past 77 years.

Chinese modernization, he said, has created unprecedented opportunities for the world, advancing global development and prosperity through opening-up and international cooperation. It has also opened new prospects for the development of China-UK relations.

Ambassador Zheng recalled that the UK was the first major Western country to recognize New China. He emphasized that the partnership serves the interests of both nations and contributes to world peace, stability and development.

Since the beginning of this year, new progress has been made in China-UK relations through joint efforts. The Chinese side stands ready to work closely with the UK side to follow through on the common understandings reached by the two countries' leaders and to achieve further progress.

Ambassador Zheng called for enhanced mutual respect and mutual trust, expanded practical cooperation, stronger communication and mutual learning, and greater collaboration in international affairs between China and the UK.

Rosie Winterton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, conveyed festival greetings on behalf of the UK government.

The reception was attended by more than 500 guests, including figures from various sectors in the UK, members of the diplomatic corps, overseas Chinese, representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises, and Chinese students.

Chinese and British artists jointly presented performances, including the dance Held by Love, a piano rendition of A Moonlit Night on the Spring River, and the choir piece Love My China.