British politics has been very fast-moving in recent days. Following the referendum on June 23 in which the British people voted to leave the EU, the UK has a new Prime Minister, Theresa May, to negotiate a new relationship with Europe and to deliver the Conservative Party's policies.

In the middle of all the change, I have no doubt that the British government, under May's leadership, will continue to build a strong and constructive relationship with the People's Republic of China in the years ahead.

There will be new opportunities which both our countries should now seize, particularly in strengthening our trade and investment ties, delivering greater prosperity to both the British and Chinese people.

The British vote to leave the EU will end decades of ambiguity in the UK's relationship with Europe.

I have always argued that the British people should take a decision to be fully committed to the EU and political union or else pursue a national course, outside the EU.

The latter course has been chosen and now it is the responsibility of the government to chart a new course for Britain outside the EU, taking advantage of the flexibility and freedom of action which this will bring.

Withdrawal from the institutions of the EU does not mean the UK will withdraw from Europe or the world.

Indeed, the UK remains fully committed to the collective defence of Europe through our membership of and contribution to NATO. This was reaffirmed at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, where the UK committed a battalion of 500 soldiers to Estonia and 150 troops to Poland.

The UK will continue to cooperate with friends and allies across the world in tackling global challenges such as climate change and health threats, and in supporting a rules-based international order and respect of human rights. China will be a crucial partner in this.

Indeed, the UK-Chinese relationship is, in the words of Premier Li Keqiang, an "indispensable partnership." Britain remains open for business; open for an intensifying exchange of investment, ideas and people.

The UK will be able to negotiate its own trade deals, tailored to the needs of the UK economy which excels in financial services, services in the legal and education fields, and in advanced manufacturing. The British government has already stated that it would like to enhance our trading relationship and I hope that this will lead to a wide-ranging UK-China trade and investment agreement.

The UK is not entering a period of "glorious isolation," but rather a new period of "glorious engagement" with its trading partners around the world. Our partnership with China will be central to this.

The author is chairman of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn