On February 28, 2008, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his British counterpart David Miliband at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Calling bilateral ties "better than ever", Yang said China-UK relations were facing new opportunities. The two sides should work together to implement the agreements reached between the two leaders and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation so as to push forward China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership.

Miliband said China has made enormous achievements in development and the Chinese people have more rights and freedom. The United Kingdom (UK) hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China, said Miliband, reaffirming that the UK will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and does not support the Taiwan authorities' "referendum on U.N. membership".

Yang emphasized that a successful Olympics is an aspiration of the Chinese people, as well as a common wish of the international community. "We are staunchly opposed to the attempts by any individual or organization to politicize the Olympics in the name of human rights," said Yang. "We believe that with the joint support and efforts of the international community, the Beijing Olympics will be a great success, "he added. Miliband said the UK supports a successful Olympics, which, he noted, accorded with the interests of the UK and the world at large.

Both sides also had a broad, in-depth exchange of views on cooperation in bilateral and international affairs and reached consensus in the following aspects.

Both sides agreed to continue maintaining high-level visits, give full play to the roles of such mechanisms as China-UK Task Forces, strategic dialogue and China-UK economic and financial dialogue, increase political trust, maintain dialogue on human rights and other areas, expand trade and the scale of mutual investment, strengthen cooperation on finance, education, science and technology, culture and the Olympics and boost youth exchanges. Yang and Miliband also agreed that the two countries would work closely on major international and regional issues with regard to enhancing the U.N.'s role in peacekeeping and reconstruction, promoting more effective non-proliferation and substantial international efforts on reducing carbon emissions. The two sides would promote China-EU cooperation, jointly face the challenges and opportunities of globalization and strive to realize of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals at an early date. The two countries will hold the second round of consultations on Africa within the year.

The two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as China-EU relations, the Sudanese region of Darfur, the Iranian nuclear issue and dialogue between developed and developing countries.

Following the talks, the two foreign ministers jointly met the press.