Yangzhou, May 26th—The 14th China-UK Senior Leadership Forum was held here today. Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), attended the event and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. More than 60 people were present, including representatives from relevant Chinese ministries, commissions, local authorities and universities, David Lidington, former Minister for the Cabinet Office and President of the Great Britain-China Centre (GBCC), members of Parliament from the UK Labour Party and the Conservative Party, officials of British diplomatic missions in China, as well as business representatives from both countries. The two sides held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on the theme of "leveraging the role of political parties to build a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK". 

In his keynote speech, Liu said, in January this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping reached important consensus on developing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK with Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the latter's visit to China, charting the course for the growth of bilateral relations. The two sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, keep bilateral relations on the right track, continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation across all fields, further enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and enable bilateral relations to forge ahead steadily and soundly. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major economies in the world, China and the UK should assume the responsibilities of major countries, take the lead in practicing true multilateralism, promote the political settlement of hotspot issues, foster a more just and reasonable global governance system, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will further prioritize investment in people, expansion of domestic demand, scientific and technological innovation, green development and expansion of high-standard opening-up, which will create broader prospects for China-UK cooperation. 

Liu said, political parties bear important responsibilities in advancing China-UK relations. The CPC is ready to work with all political parties in the UK in the same direction. We will act as a leader in building consensus and foster positive mutual perceptions through constructive communication, serve as a driving force for practical cooperation, explore and expand more "political party+" cooperation, set an example for exchanges and mutual learning, and strengthen dialogue on respective major policy agendas, key development plans, state governance experience and global issues of common concern, so as to contribute wisdom and strength to building a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK. 

Lidington and other British representatives noted that the UK and China are important cooperative partners, and developing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership serves the interests of both sides. Faced with the evolving international landscape and various global challenges, the two sides should maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, properly manage and resolve differences in a constructive manner, deepen people-to-people, cultural, economic and trade interactions, tap cooperation potential in such areas as scientific and technological innovation and financial services, and promote common interests and shared development. Given the volatile and complex international situation, the two countries, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, need to strengthen coordination in international affairs, promote the political settlement of regional hotspot issues and contribute to world peace and stability. People from all walks of life and the general public in the UK hope to learn more about China, and expect mechanisms including the China-UK Senior Leadership Forum to play a bigger role in promoting mutual understanding and trust, strengthening friendship between the two peoples and deepening practical cooperation in all fields. 

Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, presided over the forum. Zhao Yan, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, and Peter Wilson, UK Ambassador to China, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. 

A China-UK business roundtable was also held under the framework of the forum.