From October 30 to November 2, 2024, Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU). During the visit, Jiang met with Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London; Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC); Peter Burnett OBE BBS, Chief Executive of the CBBC; Angus Robertson, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh; and Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor for Greater Manchester. Jiang also held working meetings with leaders of organizations such as the SACU, the Scotland-China Association (SCA), and the Manchester China Forum, engaging in in-depth discussions on strengthening people-to-people friendship and subnational cooperation between China and the UK. Related activities were also attended by Zhang Biao, Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh, and Tang Rui, Chinese Consul General in Manchester.

Jiang highlighted that both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies. Developing stable and mutually beneficial relations aligns with the interests of both countries and their peoples and contributes to global peace and development. In August, President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during which they reached important consensus on expanding engagement and deepening cooperation, thereby enhancing confidence in bilateral cooperation. Recently, exchanges at various levels between China and the UK have maintained a positive momentum. Jiang noted that as China remains committed to deepening reforms, advancing Chinese modernization, pursuing high-quality development, and promoting high-standard opening up, more opportunities will emerge for China-UK relations.

Jiang expressed appreciation for the significant contributions made by British friendship organizations in fostering mutual understanding between the two peoples. He commended the positive attitude of the cities visited toward cooperation with China. Jiang emphasized that people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation are key components of China-UK relations. The CPAFFC is ready to work with people from all walks of life in the UK to build stronger bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchange, and youth engagement, contributing subnational and people's efforts to the development of China-UK relations. These initiatives, Jiang noted, would be guided by the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries.

The British representatives welcomed the delegation's visit and unanimously recognized the importance of the UK-China relationship. They highlighted that strengthened cooperation between the two nations is essential for advancing economic development, improving livelihoods, and addressing global challenges such as climate change. The British side acknowledged the critical role of people-to-people exchanges and subnational cooperation in fostering stronger China-UK relations. It is willing to enhance communication with the CPAFFC to facilitate bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, culture, youth, and green development, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.