On 25 January, Chinese Ambassador to the UK H.E. Zheng Zeguang sent a congratulatory letter to “In Conversation with the Bridge Builders”, an event held by CGTN Europe. In the letter, Ambassador Zheng extended congratulations on the successful holding of the event, and emphasised that cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both the Chinese and British people and meets the trend of the times. Only by following the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation can China-UK relations move forward smoothly. In the new year, the Chinese side will proceed from the fundamental interests of the people of both countries and work with visionary people from all walks of life in the UK to remove disruption and obstacles in the “icebreaking” spirit. Through dialogue and cooperation, we will advance China-UK relations along the right track. The full text of the congratulatory letter is as follows:

As we celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, CGTN Europe’s holding of the “In Conversation with the Bridge Builders” event is truly meaningful that adds to the festivities of the New Year. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, I would like to extend warm congratulations to CGTN Europe for its successful special series To the Future Together featuring bridge builders of friendship between China and the UK. I would also like to extend New Year’s greetings from the bottom of my heart to Chinese and British friends attending this event.

On 26 January 2022, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the “Icebreakers” 2022 Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the 48 Group Club. In his message, President Xi fully acknowledged the first generation of “icebreakers” in the 1950s represented by Mr Jack Perry for their historical contributions to China-UK relations and encouraged visionary people and entrepreneurs in both countries to carry forward the “icebreaking” spirit to promote the China-UK friendship in the new era. President Xi’s message has greatly inspired people from all walks of life in our two countries who care about and support the growth of China-UK relations.

The 20-episode special series To the Future Together run by CGTN Europe present in a vivid way the stories of 20 “bridge builders”. Their extraordinary stories are deeply touching and inspiring and their contributions to the China-UK friendship deserve our respect. Over the past half century, it was because of the hard work of Mr Jack Perry and the other “icebreakers” like him that China-UK relations continued growing despite ups and downs; on the journey ahead, for China-UK relations to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward, we need more “bridge builders” of the new era to brave difficulties and carry on the friendship.

Cooperation serves the fundamental interests of both the Chinese and British people and meets the trend of the times. Only by following the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation can China-UK relations move forward smoothly. In the new year, the Chinese side will proceed from the fundamental interests of the people of both countries and work with visionary people from all walks of life in the UK to remove disruption and obstacles in the “icebreaking” spirit. Through dialogue and cooperation, we will advance China-UK relations along the right track.

To conclude, I wish the “In Conversation with the Bridge Builders” event a full success and I wish you all a happy Chinese New Year.

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This special event was organized by CGTN Europe. It’s the culmination of their Bridge Builders multi-media series launched in 2022 to mark 50 years of the ambassadorial relationship between China and the UK.  In attendance were Stephen Perry, son of Jack Perry,  one of the first-generation “icebreakers”, Frank Slevin, Chair of the UK National Committee on China, and John McLean, board member of the China-Britain Business Council, as well as members of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and the London Chinatown Chinese Association, the bridge builders themselves, and representatives from media organizations and various other fields from both China and the UK.