On 13th March 2012, Chinese Consul General Li Ruiyou hosted a reception at the Consulate to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Ambassadorial Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Over 100 guests from Scotland and Northern Ireland attended the reception, among whom were the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Ms. Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Mr. John Scott MSP and the former Hong Kong Governor the Lord Wilson of Tillyorn.

In his remarks on the occasion, Consul General Li said: Over the past 40 years, the China-UK relations, though experiencing twists and turns, have grown steadily in a positive direction with tangible fruits, and together we have built up a strong partnership that has covered a broad range of areas of mutual interest. The bilateral trade volume reached over 58 billion US dollars in 2011, from 300 million US dollars in 1972, growing nearly 200 times. Last 40 years also have witnessed the strengthening of ties between China and Scotland. Exchanges and collaborations at various fields and levels have been developing vigorously, especially during the last decade. China has become the largest export destination for Scottish farmed salmon in the Far East and the 5th largest globally. China is also a key emerging market for Scotch whisky. Educational and cultural exchanges and collaborations have seen rapid progress, and the joint research project on Giant Pandas has become the highlight in science and technology sector.

Mr. Li underlined the point that the high level exchange of visits in both directions have played a major role in strengthening our relationship.

Mr. Li also extended his gratitude to all who have contributed their efforts and support for the hard-to-earn friendship between the two countries.

Cabinet Secretary Ms. Fiona Hyslop said in her speech: This very day in 1972 signalled the start of a strengthening relationship between the UK and China which in that time has seen many momentous occasions, and our close relationship has seen many achievements for mutual benefit, including the award of a Health Certificate for Scottish Salmon by China in January 2011 which allowed export from Scotland to China. Salmon exports to China from January to November last year were worth £21.4 million. Scotch Whisky received Geographical Indication of origin status in China in 2010, which saw exports to China from January to November last year of £60.1 million. Today is an opportunity to look at what we have achieved in the past, but it is also an opportunity to look to the future. Scotland is committed to broadening and deepening our strengthening relationship with China.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Mr. John Scott said: As we mark this significant anniversary, I feel confident that our countries are well placed to take our friendship and cooperation forward. Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, diplomatic relations have also evolved between China and Scotland, both at a governmental and a parliamentary level. The high profile visit to Scotland last year of Chinese Vice-Premier Li has stimulated a good deal of Chinese investment in Scotland. At the Scottish Parliament, the Cross Party Group on China was re-established following last year's elections and, it continues to add excellent value to the Team Scotland approach to developing relations between our countries.

Lord Wilson was also invited to made remarks. He shared the experiences of his engagements in the development of relationship between the two countries and commended the significance of the 40 years' progress of the bilateral ties. Quoting Confucius' saying "a man of 50 knows his destiny", he believed that the UK-China relationship will be more mature in 10 years when it reaches the 50th anniversary.

The reception lasted for nearly 3 hours and was full of good wishes for a steady and sound relationship between the two countries.