LONDON — Solidarity and cooperation are the most effective weapons against global challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, the charge d'affaires a.i. of China's embassy in the UK, Chen Wen, said on Wednesday.

Chen made the remarks at the "Icebreakers" 2021 Chinese New Year Online Celebration held jointly by the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), the 48 Group Club and China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

"We are living in a global village where countries share weal and woe, and a common future," Chen said. "Solidarity and cooperation are the most effective weapons against global challenges."

"China and the UK should shoulder our responsibilities as important global players," she said. "This means we should deepen cooperation with other countries in fighting the pandemic, share information, enhance joint prevention and control, and step up global cooperation on R&D, production and distribution of vaccines and ensure that vaccines are public goods that are accessible and affordable to the peoples of all countries."

China and Britain should also aim for long-term development and make fresh contribution to global sustainable development, Chen said.

Meanwhile, Chen also called for the joint efforts by China and Britain to expand business cooperation. She noted that in 2020, China's GDP grew by 2.3 percent and trade in goods grew by 1.9 percent year-on-year. China was the only major economy in the world that achieved positive growth in GDP and trade in goods. It was also the world's largest recipient of FDI.

As China is opening up wider and deeper and in more areas, its enormous market and growing domestic demand will create more opportunities of cooperation for businesses of all countries, including Britain, Chen said.

"It is our hope that the UK will remain committed to an open economy and free trade, and foster an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese businesses here in this country," she added.

Chen noted that business cooperation between the two sides has showed resilience.

Bilateral trade in goods reached $92.37 billion, increasing by 7 percent year-on-year and hitting yet another record, she said.

Direct investment from Britain to China stood at $2.9 billion, increasing by 28.3 percent year-on-year, she said, adding that London remains the world's largest offshore RMB exchange center and the second-largest offshore RMB clearing center.

More than 1,000 guests and participants from political, business, culture and academic circles from both China and Britain took part in the "Icebreakers" online celebration on Wednesday.

In 1954, Jack Perry, founder of London Export Corporation, led a group of 48 British businesspeople on a historic trade mission to Beijing and helped deliver one of the first modern-day trade links with China, effectively breaking the US-led Western embargo on the country.

The 48 men were the precursors of the 48 Group Club. The trip became known as the "Icebreaking Mission," and the club members were called "Icebreakers."

Also speaking at the event, Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, said: "Economic ties, commercial ties, are of course important, but in the end, we are all human beings together with the same aspirations for our families and our friends and our countries and let … us pull our efforts to build a better world together and not listen to the siren voices who want to make things worse."

Former Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable and vice-chair of KPMG David Sayer also gave speeches at the virtual event.

Sayer hopes for better times in the Year of the Ox. "In times when the winds of political change are blowing, the history of the relationship between our two great nations should ensure that bilateral business can continue to thrive and the many Chinese students and tourists that enjoy this country will continue to do so," he said, highlighting the importance of mutual trust and building relationships.

Xinhua – China Daily