China-UK relations towards a better future
- By Jiang Shixue
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 22, 2015
China and the U.K. both have strong soft power. But it does not mean that there is no need for China and the U.K. to cooperate in this area. For instance, there are so many Chinese students who want to learn English and/or attend U.K. universities. At the same time, more and more young people from the U.K. like to learn Chinese and study in Chinese universities. As a result, both countries can simplify the visa application process and offer more scholarships for students. As a matter of fact, tourists, businesspersons, scholars and other professionals will also benefit from easing the visa application process.
To further promote China-U.K. relations, both countries also need to deepen their mutual understanding and strengthen strategic trust. The U.K. must respect China's "red-lines" in terms of its sovereignty. For instance, although it issued a statement in 2008, claiming that "Our recognition of China's 'special position' in Tibet developed from the outdated concept of suzerainty", Prime Minister Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Clegg still met with the Dalai Lama in May 2012. This meeting caused a freeze of high-level exchanges for almost 18 months. Definitely, this outcome was not what the two sides wished to see.
Additionally, after Hong Kong's so-called "Occupy Central Movement" or "Umbrella Movement" escalated in October 2014, a few U.K. politicians expressed some opinions which were clearly opposed to China's sovereignty over the former British colony.
It can be expected that bilateral economic relations will move forward more rapidly after President Xi's trip. However, in order to attract Chinese investment, the U.K. needs to do away with the mentality of fear towards China. From the U.K. media, it is not difficult to see that Chinese capital is perceived as a threat to the U.K. As a matter of fact, growing Chinese investment has benefited the U.K. economy.
Many people in the U.K. are preoccupied with their tainted-lens observations, prejudice, misunderstanding and misinformed perceptions. China needs to adopt an open-minded attitude towards them by making more explanations and even accepting the correct and reasonable observations and criticism. After all, the two countries have very different political and social systems. Consequently, it is impossible for everyone in the U.K. to have an objective judgment about everything in China.
The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/jiangshixue.htm
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