习近平向中英贸易“破冰之旅”70周年活动致贺信

新华社北京7月6日电 7月6日，国家主席习近平向中英贸易“破冰之旅”70周年活动致贺信。

习近平指出，70年前，以杰克·佩里先生为代表的英国企业家敏锐看到新中国的光明前景和中英合作的巨大潜力，以无畏的勇气和魄力打破意识形态坚冰，率先开辟了中英贸易交流的通道。70年来，几代“破冰者”见证并积极参与中国发展和改革事业，在互利合作中实现自身发展壮大。在双方共同努力下，中英贸易从无到有，如今已超过千亿美元。事实证明，中英合作造福两国人民，也有利于世界和平和发展。

习近平强调，当今世界多重挑战交织叠加，经济全球化遭遇逆流。希望中英各界有识之士传承富有远见、开放合作、敢为人先的破冰精神，奋力开拓合作共赢新局面，推动构建开放型世界经济，为促进中英友好合作作出更大贡献。

当日，中英贸易“破冰之旅”70周年活动由中国国际贸易促进委员会与英国48家集团俱乐部、英中贸易协会共同在京举办。

Xi sends congratulatory letter to event marking 70th anniversary of "Icebreaking Mission" in China-UK trade

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the "Icebreaking Mission" in China-UK trade.

Xi pointed out that 70 years ago, British entrepreneurs represented by Jack Perry, keenly seeing the bright future of New China and the huge potential of China-UK cooperation, broke the ice of ideology with courage, and took the lead in opening up the channel of China-UK trade exchanges.

Over the past seven decades, generations of "icebreakers" have witnessed and actively participated in China's development and reform, and achieved their own development and growth through mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said.

He noted that thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-UK trade has grown to over 100 billion U.S. dollars. "Facts have proved that China-UK cooperation benefits the two peoples and is conducive to world peace and development."

The multiple challenges in today's world are intertwined and economic globalization is facing countercurrents, Xi said, expressing the hope that people of vision from all walks of life in China and Britain will carry on the pioneering spirit of openness and cooperation, work hard to break new ground for win-win cooperation, promote the building of an open world economy, and make greater contributions to promoting China-UK friendship and cooperation.

The commemorative event was co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the 48 Group Club and the China-Britain Business Council on Thursday in Beijing.