LONDON - The China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) and the 48 Group Clubs have jointly held the 2018 New Year's Gala Dinner in London, bringing together over 400 guests from the business sectors of China and Britain to discuss the cooperation opportunities between both countries after the upgrading of the "Golden Era" in bilateral ties.

Addressing the event on Monday night, China's Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, said that both China and the UK now stand at the entrance to a new historic stage, "Each embraces a new era, and each has a new dream."

"Our converging new eras set the stage for our two countries to explore opportunities and achieve common development. Both the Chinese Dream and the British Dream point to broader and more dynamic cooperation. China is committed to building a modernized economy and an open economy of higher standards. This means that China will open its door wider to the world. And this will create more opportunities for the UK," he said.

Liu said it is important that both China and the UK should seize these historic opportunities in the new era to advance bilateral relations and promote common development.

Sun Yu, chairman of the CCCUK said, "This year is very special. Developing the golden era as the UK changes its place in the world. The UK is a very important market for China, and increasing source of goods, and two-way investment is expanding fast, London is increasingly a hub for the internationalisation of the RMB and the UK and China can have great cooperation in professional services as China further opens up."

Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, said, "Some 65 years on from the original 'Icebreakers' ground-breaking trip to China, we continue to work with UK business and other organisations to help them understand, and benefit from, the opportunities offered by a resurgent China."

Organizations judged to have made outstanding contributions each year to China-UK relations have been recognized at the dinner in the annual KPMG-sponsored 48 Group Club CCCUK Business Awards. AstraZeneca and China State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) were this year's winners.

Douglas Flint, chairman of HSBC (2010-2017), recently appointed by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer as the UK Treasury's Belt and Road Envoy, was awarded The 48 Group Club CCCUK Lifetime Award.