On January 31, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council arrived at London, kicking off official visit to Britain.

At about 12:50 p.m. Wen’s chartered plane arrived at London Heathrow Airport. British Prime Minister Brown’s special representative and former British Deputy Prime Minister Prescott as well as Chinese ambassador to Britain Fu Ying and staffs of the embassy welcomed Wen at the airport.

Delivering a written speech at the airport, Wen said that in recent years the all-round strategic partnership between China and Britain has developed rapidly and the two countries conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields. Against the current complex and fluctuating international situation, China and Britain, as two countries with great influence in the world, share identical interest extensively of coping with the international financial crisis, advancing common development and maintaining world peace. He was looking forward to exchanging in-depth opinions with Prime Minister Brown on the bilateral relations and major international and regional issues, contacting widely people from all circles of the British society and pushing forward the cooperation between the two countries.

Upon getting off the plane, Wen visited the London Chinatown, extending Spring Festival greetings to the local overseas Chinese. Decorated with lanterns and colored ribbons, the Chinatown was immersed in a happy atmosphere. People were performing lion dances and beating drums and joyful music could be heard everywhere. Wen shook hands with local residents, exchanging greetings with them cordially against the background of red lanterns. “I bring to you the sincere greetings and best wishes of people in the motherland. The Chinese government is adopting vigorous measures in response to the international financial crisis to ensure stable and relatively fast economic growth. I hope our overseas compatriots keep confidence in China’s development and in the promising future of the world,” said Wen. His words received warm applauses and cheers from the audience.