On 29 January Ambassador Fu Ying was interviewed by Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, Phoenix TV (Europe) on Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to UK and China-UK relations.

Fu Ying said that Premier Wen's visit came at a time when the world economy was gravely affected by the financial crisis. The measures taken by China to handle the crisis and their effect were of great interest to the rest of the world. The UK was also faced with serious challenges from the financial crisis. Premier Wen said his visit was a confidence visit with the main theme of strengthening China-UK financial cooperation. He hoped the visit would help to pool consensus, strengthen cooperation, work together to handle crisis and bring the economies of China, UK and the world out of trough. Premier Wen would explore with PM Brown and financial, business and academic communities in UK on how to strengthen cooperation between the two counties in financial and economic fields so as to inject new vigor into bilateral trade and investment. Leaders of the two countries would also have in-depth exchange of views on international questions of common concern and bilateral relations.

       Fu Ying said that currently China-UK relations developed smoothly and soundly with cooperation in all fields progressing steadily. The two countries saw frequent exchange of high level visits, smooth progress of dialogs at all levels, steady development of trade and economic cooperation, good cooperation in culture, S&T, education, personnel exchange and tourism, and more exchange and dialog in the military field. Amid the world financial crisis, it is important for China and UK to further strengthen and expand financial and economic cooperation.

       The first policy paper issued by the British Government recently showed the importance attached by the UK side towards developing relations with China. Of course the paper also showed some difference between China and UK. But so long as the two sides had dialog to enhance understanding on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, they could solve their difference.

       Premier Wen's visit was a good start of the bilateral relations in 2009. It would bring more vigor to the in-depth development of bilateral relations and push cooperation between the two countries up to a new high.