Chinese President Xi Jinping’s UK visit from October 19 to 23 is of great significance to China’s relations with the UK and other European countries, read a commentary published by People’s Daily on Monday that also analyzed the global impact of China-EU ties.

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming previously said that the “golden era” of Sino-UK relation is not built in a day, but is the result of long-term efforts. People from the two countries are expecting Xi’s visit to be a splendid milestone of new progress in Sino-UK ties.

Sino-UK relations have harvested inspiring achievements in the past decade with more progress expected in the future. Many unprecedented moves in regards of Sino-UK cooperation have been actualized asthe two countries become increasingly intimate, bringing a positive impact and experience to the global community.

The UK government has said multiple times in public statements that the development of China is an opportunity rather than a challenge.

Britain has expressed its hope to become China’s best friend in Europe, and Xi’s visit can serve as a good opportunity to boost not only Sino-UK ties but also China’s relations with other European countries, said the report, quoting a British scholar. Sino-EU relations have found a steady and prosperous momentum, and economic and trade cooperation between China and the UK is more and more highlighted.

As China implements all-around reform and Europe sets off on its way to structural reform, common interestand considerable cooperation is promising.

Sino-UK relations are a miniature of China’s relations with the world, and especially with western countries, the People’s Daily commentarysaid.

China’s shameful history in modern times began amid the roar of Britain warships’ guns, the modern technology of which shredded China’s fantasy of being the “center of the universe,” inspiring the ancient giant to begin its journey to independence and prosperity.

Now China has grasped the essence of peace and development, and by upholding the spirit of “peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit,” China has changed the zero-sum mindset that has dominated international relations for centuries.

Disagreements and disturbances occur from time to time, as China and western countries differ greatly in terms of regimes and ideology. Ideologicalprejudice and misjudgment of actual interests sometimes make it difficult to perceive the whole picture as a win-win situation and to approach relations with mutual respect. Respect for regimes and each other’s core benefits is a foundation of any development in bilateral relations. Calm strategic views are what is needed to boost Sino-EU relations.

China and European countries need more dialogue about reform to understand and trust each other and to abide by the philosophy of mutual respect, seek win-win scenarios, and uphold the spirit of treating each other equally and allowing disagreement while seeking common ground.

Though geographically separated by over 8,000 kilometers and an eight-hour time difference, people from China and the UK have never ceased to pursue friendly relations. A bridge characterized by peace, growth, reform and civilization has reached out from both sides with joint effort. Enthusiasm in the UK for Xi’s visit is similar to the scene witnessed when Xi visited European citieslast March.

A new “golden era” of Sino-UK relations and a new milestone in the Sino-EU friendship will be witnessed this golden autumn.

The author is a commentator with the People's Daily.