Britain's Queen Elizabeth fondly remembered her visit to China as she addressed the country's President Xi Jinping.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth
The 89-year-old royal and her husband Prince Philip visited the Asian country nearly 30 years ago and in her speech to the President and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan, she warmly recalled all the "unforgettable memories".
She said: "The United Kingdom and China have a warm and longstanding friendship. Prince Philip and I recall with great fondness our visit to China almost thirty years ago, where we were privileged to experience your country's rich history and culture, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors: all unforgettable memories of China's ancient civilisation.
"Yet it was China's desire to shape a new future which captivated us the most. We were struck by the energy and enthusiasm with which China's leaders were forging ahead with a new and ambitious future for the Chinese people."
The Queen also made reference to her grandson Prince William's visit to China, insisting she was "delighted" he could explore the cities and the "strong connections" between the two countries.
She added: "I was delighted that my grandson Prince William was able to witness these changes during his first visit to China earlier this year. Like myself and Prince Philip, he visited not only your great cities of Beijing and Shanghai but also the beautiful province of Yunnan, and saw at first-hand the strong connections which bind our two countries together, be they in culture, education or business."
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