"Our relations (Britain-China relations) have never been better," said British Ambassador to China Christopher Hum in an online chat with People's Daily Online subscribers on Dec.5. He went on to review the efforts that the two countries had made on promoting the bilateral relations since a comprehensive partnership was built in 2004, mentioning those top level talks, wide-ranging exchanges and cooperation, and expanding trade and investment. Still the relationship is "full of potential" , he believes.

Focusing on the UK-China Comprehensive Partnership and Multilateral Diplomacy, the chat attracted at least 50,000 readers that afternoon --- with at least 300 questions. Eleven questions were answered in one hour and 15 minutes. The questions were about the progress and future of the China-EU relations, China-UK relations, Britain's alliance with the US and the Britain's anti-terror campaign.

Britain is president of both the G8 in 2005 and the EU in the second part of 2005. The Ambassador described China's role in the G8 finance ministers' meeting as "constructive" and the relationship between G8 and China as "very fruitful". He expressed his hope for the "continuation and development" of this relations.

Where the EU-China relations are concerned, he highlighted both sides' commitments to a "strategic dialogue", on negotiation on a comprehensive cooperation framework, and on global warming and climate change. He disclosed that the first meeting at the level of vice foreign ministers would be held in Brussels at the end of this month to discuss political issues. The examples of China's support for EU's talks with Iran and EU's support for China on the six-party talks, he said, were evidences that the two sides have already begun cooperation on political issues.

The China-EU relations are currently concentrated more on economics than on any other area. The Ambassador recognized that but thought that was "natural at this stage of the development of the EU" because the EU has developed a more mature economic partnership with other countries.

As the world's biggest trader, the EU has made its offer on tariff cuts for farm goods imports to the Six WTO Ministerial Conference (MC6) to be held in Hong Kong a week away. Mr. Hum hoped that the offer would get response from other WTO members. While recognizing that MC6 would see no "definitive settled agreement", he promised that the British presidency and the EC would work very hard to "make progress" in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Mr. Hum reiterated EU's expectation for concessions by other important economies in "non-agriculture areas", referring to the industrial and service sector.

EU is the largest trade partner of China in the world. Britain is the largest EU investor in China but has never been China's largest trading partner in the EU. The Ambassador explained that it was because the trade figures do not measure trade in the service industries where Britain has "a lot of exchanges with China and a lot of surplus". And service takes a larger part in Britain's economic make-up than manufacturing. "We believe there is great potential in the whole area of service", he added.

In his reply to the question about the possibility of a cultural year in both China and UK, the Ambassador briefed the exchanges between the two countries in areas beyond economics. In British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to China in September, the two sides drafted a plan for cultural exchange programs for the next five years. It "covers all areas of arts" and there will be "performances, dance and art exhibitions next year".

He told the readers that there was ThinkUK program in 2003 representing a year of activities showcasing a panorama of modern Britain and another program in 2005 promoting the bilateral partnership in science. Mr. Hum stressed the importance in helping young educated people in China learn the "innovative and creative side of Britain".

Mr. Hum may soon contribute to that in another way --- not as a diplomat. He will retire from his diplomatic career at the end of this month after spending eight years of his life in China and move to Cambridge as head of one of the colleges there.

Cambridge University has many contacts with China. "I look forward to doing everything I can through my new position to strengthen the relations," said Mr. Hum in his conclusive remarks to Chinese readers joining the chat that afternoon.

By People's Daily Online