by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Boris Johnson is taking over the British premiership at a time when his country's ties with China has hit a bumpy patch in recent weeks. He needs to join Beijing to make sure that this vital bilateral relationship travels in the right direction.

Political trust and mutual respect are fundamental for the overall development of the China-Britain relationship. However, that foundation is taking a toll recently as some British politicians have tried to meddle in Hong Kong affairs. It seems that they refuse to wake up to the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China for 22 years, and that how to handle what has been going on in that metropolis is totally China's internal affairs.

Beijing has always followed the diplomatic principle of non-interference. The new government in London needs to stop itself from being a backseat driver over issues concerning Hong Kong, and show due respect for China's sovereign rights.

The two nations also need to work together to further tap the potential in their booming and mutually beneficial cooperation, which matters more for London in the post-Brexit era.

Britain's economy is having a hard time recently with its economic growth last year dropping to 1.4 percent, the slowest in six years. The Office for Budget Responsibility, the country's fiscal watchdog, has warned that the British economy is now facing a possible "full-blown" recession.

China, Britain's major economic and commercial partner, can help the island nation sail through such a troubled time amid a long, drawn-out Brexit and surging trade protectionism around the world.

Britain is now China's second largest trading partner within the European Union (EU). It has also become China's second biggest investment destination and source of capital inside the EU, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

In recent years, the two sides have also jacked up their practical cooperation. China's participation in Britain's Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station is a fine example of win-win cooperation in the sector of energy and infrastructure.

To boost bilateral trade, China has also agreed to widen its market access for British beef and pork and establish a new private sector fund worth up to 1.25 billion U.S. dollars to help British firms expand their presence in Chinese markets.

Finance is another key area for bilateral cooperation. The newly launched Shanghai-London Stock Connect, which can enable London-listed firms to sell shares in China, is going to knit bilateral financial ties even tighter.

In the realm of hi-tech, the two countries also enjoy huge potential for cooperation. However, this is an area where the incoming British prime minister may need to exercise prudence, which includes treating Chinese firms like Huawei fairly. Denying the Chinese telecom provider the chance to help Britain build its 5G network would mean weaker market competition, longer waiting periods for British customers to use the next-generation telecommunication technologies, and higher costs.

As Beijing is rolling out more measures on reform and opening-up, British investors will see more attractive business opportunities and a more level playing field in the world's most populous market.

Moreover, Beijing and London, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, share similar views and broad common interests on a wide range of pressing global challenges, such as maintaining multilateralism, fixing the Iranian nuclear issue and combating climate change. The two sides need to work more closely on the world stage to promote global stability and spur growth, their due responsibility as major countries.

When Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Britain in 2015, the two countries embarked on a new journey of the golden era in their relations featuring enduring, inclusive and win-win cooperation.

As Johnson is taking over the helm of Britain, it is hoped that he can work with Beijing to jointly hold stable the steering wheel of the China-Britain relationship in its golden era. Enditem

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