The Chinese-British relations are "at an important historical juncture" and the two nations should value the current "hard-won momentum" of bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said.
Speaking at a reception on Monday to mark the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Liu said the two nations' shared commitments "have served as the cornerstone of China-UK bilateral relations."
Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"The journey over the past four decades and more highlights the importance of shared commitments to mutual respect, equality and taking into account each other's core interests and major concerns," the diplomat said.
These commitments "are the basis for sustained growth and improvement of our relationship," he added.
"What China and the UK have achieved in recent years is proof enough that these commitments are crucial as we carry on to further advance our relations," he told the audience.
Liu said the two countries should value the current hard-won momentum of the Chinese-British relations.
"We should bear in mind our responsibilities and the fundamental interests of our two peoples; we should work together to achieve win-win results not only for China and Britain but countries and regions beyond," he suggested.
The ambassador continued that this is the way to "ensure that the growth of our relations will always benefit our two peoples."
On military-to-military ties, Liu said they are an important part of the Chinese-British bilateral relations. "We are pleased that recent years have witnessed stronger cooperation and deeper mutual trust between our militaries," he said.
Since early this year, there have been frequent reciprocal visits by high-ranking military officers, and a number of exchanges have been carried out across services at various levels and in multiple fields, according to the ambassador.
