On June 17th, Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), visited Yan’an in Shaanxi Province together with Peter Wilson, British Ambassador to China. They toured the former revolutionary site at Yangjialing, the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, Liangjiahe Village in Wen’anyi Town of Yanchuan County, and the China Executive Leadership Academy Yan’an, where they also held discussions and exchanges. Prior to the visit, Zhao Yide, Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, met with Ambassador Wilson and his delegation in Xi’an.

During the visit, Lu noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that for China-Britain relations to fare well, mutual trust is the foundation and understanding is the precondition. Yan’an is revered as the holy land of the Chinese revolution and the cradle of the People’s Republic of China. The revolutionary sites in Yan’an bear witness to the glorious history of the CPC leading the Chinese revolution and exploring the adaptation of Marxism to China’s realities and the needs of the times during the Yan’an period. The Yan’an spirit continues to inspire Chinese communists to forge ahead today. Liangjiahe, where General Secretary Xi Jinping once lived and worked, reflects both China’s journey in poverty alleviation and the perseverance and dedication of Chinese communists. It is believed that the visit would help the British side gain a better understanding of the CPC’s path of adhering to emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, serving the people wholeheartedly, pursuing self-reliance and hard work, and establishing and practicing a correct view on governance performance. It would also contribute to a more comprehensive, objective and accurate understanding of China and the CPC, help both sides implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and promote the development of a long-term, stable and comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the United Kingdom (UK). China and the UK fought side by side during the World Anti-Fascist War and forged a profound friendship. Faced with the current international landscape marked by intertwined turbulence and transformation, the two countries should work together to demonstrate the responsibility of major countries, strengthen communication and coordination, firmly uphold the international order established after World War II, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

Peter Wilson thanked the IDCPC for assisting in arranging this visit. He said that the development of a long-term, stable and comprehensive strategic partnership between the UK and China requires deeper mutual understanding and greater mutual trust. Through the visit, he gained a deeper appreciation of the CPC’s arduous struggle during the Yan’an period, a closer understanding of the grassroots experiences that shaped China’s leaders and the practical origins of their state governance philosophy, and a fuller understanding of China’s past, present and future development. He also said that the visit reinforced his appreciation of the mutual support between the UK and China during World War II. While visiting Liangjiahe, Peter Wilson sampled local agricultural products, including apples and jujube-leaf tea, with great interest. He said that the British Embassy in China stands ready to continue promoting exchanges and dialogue between the two countries, enhancing mutual understanding and friendship, advancing practical cooperation between the UK and Shaanxi Province, particularly with Liangjiahe in areas such as agriculture, and helping UK-China relations yield even more fruitful results.