During his four-day visit to Beijing this week, the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary David Miliband on several occasions repeated a popular platitude of recent years: The world needs China, and China needs the world.

Putting aside the talks about China's growing economic interdependence with the rest of the world, Miliband's statement could be seen as a declaration that London now sees Beijing as a partner and is willing to expand cooperation.

If this is true, it is good news for bilateral ties and its long-term growth. At the moment, we hope London will make concrete efforts to mend the marred relationship with Beijing.