Question: On 28 August, The Times carried a report saying that "the number of Chinese diplomats in the UK has risen by almost a quarter in the past decade, prompting renewed concerns over the country's political influence in Britain", and that "Chinese diplomats around the world have been accused of displaying so-called 'wolf warrior' diplomacy during the coronavirus pandemic". What is the comment of the Chinese Embassy in the UK?

Embassy Spokesperson: The past 10 years have seen sound development in China-UK bilateral relations, during which the state visit to the UK by President Xi in 2015 unveiled the "golden era" of China-UK relations. In these 10 years, trade between the two countries doubled; Chinese investment in the UK increased 20 times; Chinese students in the UK increased from 100,000 to 220,000; The UK became the largest recipient of Chinese students in Europe. The two countries also kept close communication regarding regional and international hot spots. As the bilateral relations grow and exchange and cooperation in various sectors increase, the workload of the Chinese Embassy has risen accordingly and so has the number of staff in the Embassy. This is the reflection of the booming relationship. It is reasonable and there is nothing wrong about it.

Recently, there have been worrying noises in the UK regarding the China-UK relations. Some politicians and institutions deliberately twist and smear the normal exchange and cooperation between the two countries or even clamor for the so-called "new cold war" against China. China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and important members of the G20 and other international organizations. Both are countries of global influence and shoulder the important mission of safeguarding world peace and promoting development. A sound and stable China-UK relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two peoples but also conducive to world peace and prosperity. We hope the public could look at China and its development in an objective and rational light, take a comprehensive and pragmatic perspective on China-UK cooperation and support the sound and steady development of China-UK relationship.

Diplomats of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in the UK are serving as a bridge between China and the UK and shouldering the important task of promoting understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation. Every achievement and progress in China-UK relationship is closely connected with their arduous works which deserve fair and just assessment rather than distortion and accusation. The most important conclusion we could draw from the outbreak of COVID-19 is that mankind belongs to a community with a common future, where people from all countries share weal and woe. In this battle against the virus, solidarity and cooperation are the most effective weapons. In face of misinterpretations, misunderstandings and even deliberate slanders on China and malicious depreciation and distortion of China-UK relationship, Chinese diplomats have the duty to tell the real story, uphold justice and refute the lies. This righteous action of defending the honor and dignity of China and safeguarding the hard-won China-UK relationship brooks no slander.