On the evening of February 18, 2008, China Now, a large-scale exchange event between China and the United Kingdom opened in the Country Hall in the City of London. The event was attended by over 400 representatives from both countries including Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Tang extended congratulations on the hosting of China Now on behalf of the Chinese government. He said that China Now was an unprecedented event in the history of China-UK exchanges in terms of its scale, duration, level of participation and the activities involved. The Chinese government attached great importance and gave full support to this event. China would like to work with the UK to take this opportunity to deepen understanding and friendship between the people and make China-UK cultural exchanges a good example for different cultures to learn from each other, seek common ground while putting aside differences and promote human civilization, prosperity and progress.

Tang added that China would host the Olympic Games and celebrate the 30th anniversary for the implementation of the reform and opening up policy in 2008. In the past 30 years since the reform and opening up, historical changes had taken place in China. China had also discovered a path suited to its own national conditions. The path was the socialism with Chinese characteristics - a path enabling China, a big country with a population of 1.3 billion, to get rid of poverty and embark on modernization and development. In the past 30 years, China's national economy witnessed rapid and sustained growth. China's economic power rose significantly. The living standards of the Chinese people were improved remarkably. Social development proceeded in an all-round way.

Tang pointed out that China remained a developing country and had to develop on a weak foundation; therefore it required arduous efforts of several generations or more before China caught up with the developed countries. "We are fully aware that our mission is tough, our responsibility is heavy and our way forward is long."

In the past 30 years since the reform and opening up, China also saw historical changes in its relations with the rest of the world. China walked out of isolation or semi-isolation and opened the door to the rest of the world. China participated widely in regional and global cooperation and had became one of the major forces driving the economic growth of the world. China participated actively in regional and international affairs, fulfilled its due international obligations, played a responsible and constructive role, and became an important force maintaining world peace and promoting common development, according to Tang.

Tang stressed that China's development experience proved that any country, while relying mainly upon its own efforts, had to insist on reform and opening up and commit itself to mutual benefits, win-win results and common development of all countries all the time if it wished to seek for development. "Today, as globalization moves further, the fate of China is more closely linked with that of the world. China will always walk along the path of peaceful development and pursue an all-round opening strategy featuring mutual benefits and win-win results. China will put forth efforts to address new problems and matters in the process of opening up, participate in the process of economic globalization on a higher level, and strive to build a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity."

Tang further added that the past 30 years also witnessed rapid and sustained growth of China-UK relations. The relationship between the two countries was getting increasingly closer. Mutual interests were expanding. The foundation of China-UK cooperation got increasingly stronger. China-UK relations were more important than ever before. As the global situation kept changing in a profound way and China's modernization drive moved further, China-UK relations is facing unprecedented opportunities and great prospects for further development. The opportunities called on the two countries to strengthen cooperation while common challenges needed to be addressed through cooperation. "We have every reason to believe that with our joint efforts, China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership will grow stronger, cover more areas, bring greater benefits to the people and contribute more to world peace and development."

The Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, Sir David Brewer, Chairman of the British-Chinese Trade Association and Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings Stephen Green also gave speeches at the ceremony, expressing their appreciation for China's development achievements, speaking positively of China-UK relations and hoping to make use of China Now to expand bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation.

Before the opening ceremony, Tang met British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

China Now was launched by the British business community and includes over 800 activities covering culture, economy, trade, education, science, technology and sports. The event will be carried out in different cities of the UK and last until the opening of the Beijing Olympics. The event aims at introducing contemporary China to the British public, increasing mutual understanding, and promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation. The main themes of the event are creative China, sustainable development of China and China-UK cooperation. During the event, China will carry out a series of activities in the UK.