On October 20 local time, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the UK Parliament, stressing that China and the UK should enhance exchanges and mutual learning, boost mutual understanding, support and friendship between the two peoples and promote bilateral cooperation to a new high.

At about 4:00 pm local time, Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan arrived at the Houses of Parliament and were warmly greeted by Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D'Souza and Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow.

Xi Jinping received standing ovation and warm applauses from the Parliament members upon stepping into the lecture hall. Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow gave a welcome speech on behalf of the UK Parliament for Xi Jinping's visit to the UK and the UK Parliament. In a warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered a speech.

Xi Jinping pointed out that I deeply felt the vigorousness of China-UK relations and the profound friendship between the two peoples on the first day of my state visit to the UK, therefore, I am full of expectations to further advance bilateral friendly relations through the visit.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the UK was the first country to explore the representative system. In China, the ideas of people first and rule of law were raised as early as in ancient times, and the Chinese people have had a saying "People is the foundation of the country, and the country will be safe if the foundation is firmed" for thousands of years. At present, the Chinese people are comprehensively advancing rule of law by both inheriting the fine traditions of Chinese legal system and learning beneficial practices from other countries in rule of law, so as to ensure that all people are equal before the law, accelerate the building of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and constantly push forward the process of scientific legalization, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and everyone abiding by law. Legislative bodies of both countries can strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in this regard.

Xi Jinping emphasized that though at both ends of the Eurasian continent, the two countries have been attractive to each other for a long time. Bilateral relations have made multiple "firsts" since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The UK was the first major western country to recognize the PRC and also took the lead among the EU countries in establishing comprehensive strategic partnership with the PRC. The UK is the largest RMB offshore trading center after Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and also has the largest number of Chinese overseas students and Confucius Institutes in the EU. The UK was also the first western country issuing RMB sovereign bonds and the first major western country applying for membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. China and the UK are more and more becoming an interdependent community of entwined interests. The development of bilateral relations takes root in mutual understanding, support and friendship between the two peoples. We are now at an era featuring peace and development, where all countries stay together for common progress. In such a great era and at the new starting point of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, China and the UK are at the right time to join hands for development.

Xi Jinping noted that William Shakespeare wrote "What's past is prologue". The UK Parliament plays an increasingly important role in facilitating exchanges of social circles of both countries and boosting bilateral relations. It is hoped that the Parliament members will continuously serve as active promoters of bilateral relations, contributors of bilateral friendship and supporters of bilateral cooperation from a long-term perspective, and pave a way of understanding and cooperation for brighter future of bilateral relations.

The Parliament members burst into a warm applause at the end of Xi Jinping's speech. Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D'Souza gave an address to thank Xi Jinping's visit and speech.

Over 500 people were present including Prime Minister David Cameron, members of Parliament Houses, representatives of the royal family, cabinet members, government officials and Parliament officials of the UK.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended above events.