Visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said on Monday that China will work with Britain "to deepen understanding and friendship" between their peoples.
In his address at the opening ceremony of CHINA NOW in London to mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year, Tang hailed the event as "unprecedented" in bilateral exchanges.
"From today till the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games, CHINA NOW which features over 800 activities, covering art, education, economy and trade, science and technology, and sports, will be carried out in over 20 cities in the UK," said the senior Chinese official.
"It offers a platform for the two countries to have sincere exchanges that transcend differences in language, religion, national conditions and culture. It also gives concrete expression to efforts made by China and Britain to promote dialogue among civilizations and cultural diversity in the world," he added.
Tang said the Chinese government, like the British government, "attaches great importance and gives full support to this creative initiative."
"We will work with you to deepen understanding and friendship between our two peoples through the hosting of CHINA NOW. And we should make China-UK cultural exchanges a good example for promoting cultural enrichment, expanding common ground while putting aside differences and human progress," he pledged.
Recalling the past 30 years of reform, Tang said "China, once a closed and semi-closed society, has opened itself to the outside world."
He reiterated that "China will stay on the course of peaceful development and "will endeavor to enable economic globalization to produce prosperity for all."
Tang also told the gathering that China "will reduce trade imbalances by changing the pattern of trade growth and improving trade mix at a faster pace."
The Chinese official, among others, said China will "take resolute measures to ensure product quality and food safety and protect intellectual property rights."
Tang left Beijing on Saturday on a three-nation trip to Britain, Japan and South Korea.
Tang, as Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy, will attend the inauguration ceremony of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak scheduled for Feb. 25.
Source:Xinhua
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