Photo: GT

Economic and trade issues should not be politicized. If arbitrary restrictions are imposed on enterprises of other countries based on geopolitical or ideological reasons, this will definitely scare away investors and damage China-UK relations, said Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the UK.

Zheng called for the two governments to work together to provide enterprises with a good political atmosphere and a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment, noting that Chinese firms in the UK have serious concerns about the remarks and practices of some British officials about excluding Chinese firms from certain areas of the economy.

The comments were made at the 4th China-UK Economic and Trade Forum and the launch ceremony of the 2021 Report on the Development of Chinese Enterprises in the UK, according to a notice published by the Chinese embassy in the UK on Tuesday. Zheng attended the forum online.

During a keynote speech, Zheng also called for deeper cooperation in key areas, including green development, and asked business communities from both countries to not only consolidate cooperation in traditional areas, but also expand exchanges in green development, medical treatment and public health, digital economy, finance and innovation among other emerging areas.

The two countries should work together to advance cooperation under the framework of the "Belt and Road Initiative", which will benefit the people of the two countries and also provide strong support for the green development of other countries and the recovery of the global economy, Zheng remarked.

Both parties should jointly maintain the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains, Zheng said, noting that the pandemic has made all countries realize that globalization is still a historical trend. Instigating "de-globalization," "economic decoupling," or creating economic "small circles" with ideological lines will ultimately only harm the national interests and the common interests of all countries, Zhang highlighted. 

From January to September this year, China-UK bilateral trade reached $81.3 billion, an increase of 26 percent over the same period last year. China has remained Britain's largest supplier of goods for six consecutive quarters, according to the ambassador.