Prince William’s visit aims to elevate Beijing-London relationship （Tian Dewen）

It's been a while since any member of the British royal family visited China. The last time was in 1997, when the Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the throne, oversaw the handover of Hong Kong by the UK to China. Before that, the Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited China in 1986.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, hit the headlines of the British media months before it was announced he would pay China a visit in March. The future king stepped onto the runway at Beijing airport on Sunday, and now the focus is on what kind of impression he will leave to China, which may be one of the most important countries to the UK in the future.

William's first China trip kills two birds with one stone. It could be regarded as a reciprocal visit by the royal family after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's meeting with the Queen in the UK last June. More importantly, London wants William to mark a good opening for this year's bilateral relationship. British media have reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping would make a state visit to the UK later this year.

All the countries William visited since last year are UK allies or Commonwealth members, such as Australia, New Zealand and the US, even Japan. Putting China on the list shows London's intention to attach greater importance to the UK-China relations.

William can also offer attractive channels for personal exchanges. Since the young couple launched their charm offensive around the world, William and his wife Kate have been transforming public impressions of the royal family. In China, their influence is also on an upward trajectory.

Aside from the couple's influence, China-UK relations are also warming up despite an estrangement in 2012 due to UK Prime Minister David Cameron's meeting with the Dalai Lama. The last couple of years have seen an upsurge of economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. A record-breaking bilateral trade volume reached over $80 billion in 2014. The UK's investment in China has now been surpassed by China's investment in the UK, which exceeded $7 billion in 2014.

The UK has become China's biggest destination for investment in Europe. China's economic presence is expected to be seen in many British spheres, such as high-speed rail. Besides, British TV dramas, like Sherlock Holmes and Downton Abbey, have also been a hit among Chinese audiences.

Therefore, William's China trip will add more impetus to this positive trend. As for the Cameron government, this trend will help the UK to reinvigorate its economy so that the odds will be more favorable for him in the 2015 general elections. In Beijing, a good relationship with the royal family will help elevate China's soft power in various ways. For example, it may help soothe the pressures imposed by protests  of pan-democratic groups in Hong Kong, where the royal family is still popular.

William represents the new face of the British royal family. He is young, energetic, and devoted to public welfare. He is expected to be more open-minded and constructive in bilateral relations than his elders.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/909511.shtml

（Contact Tian Dewen：tiandw@cass.org.cn）