Xinhua News Agency reported today that the Chinese Ambassador to the UK had told them in an interview that relations between the two countries have made headway and enjoy good momentum.

Zha Peixin said there was a "growing interest" among the British public in China, as evidenced by his many invitations to give speeches at various business and academic occasions. This October alone, he said, he gave eight such speeches.

The date of the interview was not given, but Zha was speaking on President Hu Jintao's coming state visit to the UK which begins today.

"Hardly a day passes without some coverage on China by Britain's mainstream media," he said, adding that local governments are also showing stronger interests in setting up links with China.

In 2004, bilateral trade reached US$19.7 billion, an increase of 37 percent on the previous year. The figure in the first half of this year grew 30 percent on the same period last year.

The UK is China's third largest trading partner and No.1 investing EU country. By the end of June, its direct investment in China, excluding financial investment, had exceeded US$12.7 billion.

"All of this has shown that Britain attaches great importance to China's status, role and influence in the international arena, and values coordination with China on major international and regional issues," said the ambassador.

"Prime Minister Tony Blair has said on quite a few occasions recently that China's development presents an opportunity rather than a threat to the world, which is not only conducive to improving the lives of 1.3 billion Chinese, but also to the growth of every country," said Zha.

The Chinese government, said Zha, has always attached great importance to its relations with the UK despite differences in social systems and ideological forms. But the two sides share far more common ground than differences.

"So long as the two sides respect each other, constantly build on mutual political trust, promote cooperation with a pragmatic approach, and keep working on mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the development of relations will definitely advance to a new level," said Zha.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)