The relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland developed in a healthy and steady manner and cooperation in various fields produced fruitful results.

The two sides maintained close high-level exchanges and enhanced political mutual trust. In June, President Hu Jintao met with Prime Minister David Cameron on the sidelines of the G20 Toronto Summit. Following the formation of the new government in the UK in May, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent congratulatory messages to John Bercow, new Speaker of the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Foreign Secretary William Hague respectively. On 12 May, one day after David Cameron became Prime Minister, Premier Wen Jiabao had a telephone conversation with him. In November, Prime Minister David Cameron headed the biggest ever British delegation to visit China. President Hu Jintao met and Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister David Cameron and attended with him the opening ceremony of the China-UK Business Summit. During the visit, Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne co-chaired the third China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in Beijing. In 2010, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and William Hague paid visits to China and met with Premier Wen Jiabao. State Councillor Dai Bingguo held the China-UK strategic dialogue with them respectively. Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on the bilateral relations and major international and regional issues through correspondence on many occasions.

In the wake of the earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province of China, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and William Hague, and the then Shadow Foreign Secretary of the Conservative Party, sent messages or issued statement of condolences respectively.

Economic cooperation and trade between China and the UK restored its momentum of growth, with fruitful results in all fields. The UK is China's second biggest investor and third biggest trading partner among all EU countries. The volume of trade and economic cooperation for 2010 exceeded the level before the 2008 financial crisis. China-UK Business Summit and the 9th Joint Economic and Trade Commission were held in succession. Prince Andrew, the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, attended the activities of the UK national pavilion day during World Expo 2010 Shanghai. China-UK 400-strong youth exchange program drew to its successful conclusion. The meeting between ministers of education and the public health dialogue were held smoothly. General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, held strategic defence consultation in the UK. Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff, and General Peter Wall, the Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, paid visits to China in succession. By the end of 2010, there were 43 sister city (province, shire, district) relationships between the two countries.

China and the UK conducted close communication and stepped up coordination on international affairs. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and William Hague on four occasions in the year and had three conversations over the phone. They also had timely exchanges of views over major international and regional issues through correspondence. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the International Conference on Afghanistan in London upon invitation. China and the UK held human rights dialogue, consultation on affairs in Africa, and maintained close communication and coordination on issues like non-proliferation, climate change, tackling the international financial crisis and the UN Millennium Development Goals.