China, UK can write new chapter together

Francis Bacon, the 16th Century British statesman, observed that: "Time is the greatest innovator". Two months ago, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, and both Europe and the rest of the world felt the shock. Post-Brexit Britain is now in a time of adjustment - with the coming of a new prime minister, a new government and new policies. The China-UK relationship is also entering an important historical period with new development opportunities.

I have had the honor to have been China's Ambassador in the UK for the past six and half years. From this unique vantage point, I have been deeply impressed by the extraordinary progress made in China-UK relations in recent years. This progress was highlighted by President Xi Jinping's successful "Super State Visit" to the UK last year, which greatly advanced bilateral exchanges and cooperation across the board. During that visit, the two countries agreed to build a global comprehensive strategic partnership for the 21st century together.

Such a strong relationship and close friendship between China and the UK has extensive popular support in both countries, since it serves the fundamental interests of our two peoples and benefits world peace and development. Both countries have worked hard to come this far and both should cherish what has been achieved. Experience tells us that the important fundamentals for a healthy and stable China-UK relationship have remained unchanged - our two countries need to respect each other, treat each other as equals and attach importance to each other's core interests and major concerns.