CMG Research: Sino-British Cooperation Has Great Potential from a Broad Historical Perspective

CGTN – Amid growing international turmoil, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Beijing on the 28th of this month for an official visit to China, eight years after the last such occasion. And he is not the only foreign leader to visit the country recently. A survey conducted by the China Media Group (CMG) shows that 85,2% of respondents believe that frequent visits by foreign leaders to China reflect a broad consensus among nations to achieve a landscape of international relations guided by equal and orderly multipolarity and inclusive globalization.

In the survey, 64,8% of respondents stated that they believed the British Prime Minister's visit to China aimed to seek greater security in foreign relations. Economic and trade cooperation has always been an important part of Sino-British relations. The essence of Sino-British economic and trade cooperation lies in mutual benefit and win-win situations, with bilateral trade in goods reaching US$103,7 billion last year. In turn, 85,8% of respondents believe that the vast Chinese market represents a significant development opportunity for British companies.

The development of Sino-British relations has demonstrated that, by adopting a broad historical perspective, both sides can transform the potential for cooperation into tangible achievements. According to 83,1% of respondents, a stable and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship requires both sides to adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, and to strive for a common goal. Among the responses, 68,2% reflect that differences between the two sides can be resolved through dialogue based on mutual respect and concrete cooperation.

For some time now, unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic politics have been spreading, severely impacting the international order. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies, China and the United Kingdom need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, both to maintain global peace and stability and to promote their respective economies and the well-being of their populations. For 56,9% of participants, China and the United Kingdom share common interests and responsibilities in maintaining the post-war order and the multilateral trading system; while 67,4% expect both countries to demonstrate their responsibility as major powers and work together within a multilateral framework to address the challenges of global governance.

The research was published on CMG's platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian. A total of 9.086 internet users abroad participated in the survey and expressed their opinions within 24 hours.