This is a good moment to reflect on Britain’s relationship with China. It’s a relationship based on a deep and enduring ties between our two countries. One part of this is of course economic. Last year I was delighted to lead Britain’s largest ever trade delegation to China. The Chinese economy is once again set to become the world’s largest later this century, a position it’s held for 18 of last 20 centuries.
这是我们回顾英中两国关系的绝佳时刻。我们两国之间建立了深厚和长久的联系。其中一个当然是经济。去年我很荣幸率英国最大的贸易代表团访问中国。本世纪晚些时候，中国将再一次成为全球最大经济体，再次回到之前20个世纪里她保持了18个世纪的位置。
Britain meanwhile is growing faster almost than any other country in the west and is more open to Chinese investment than any other. That’s why in the years to come, I want our two countries to continue working closely together for the mutual benefit of all our people.
But our relationship goes much deeper than economics. It’s great, for example, that so many Chinese students have the opportunity to come and study here in British university. And these celebrations are a reminder, too, of the richest vibrancy of Chinese culture here in the UK. And on this new year I want to pay tribute to the incredible contribution that the British Chinese community makes to this country.
So let me once again wish you a happy new year and every possible success for the next twelve months. Xin Nian Kuai Le!
