Richard Graham still remembers the tough physical challenge of crossing 1,000 kilometers of the Taklimakan Desert in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in 1993.

"The strain of tugging camels over sand mountains, feet sinking with every step, took its toll," he said.

"I caught amoebic dysentery and would have died without Carolyn (a fellow traveler) and powerful antibiotics."

The expedition was the first to cross the full width of the Taklimakan, which is known as the "Desert of Death" for its mountainous dunes, huge temperature fluctuations, and severe lack of water.

Graham, now 60, was part of a team of five Britons, one United States citizen and several Chinese that successfully made the crossing. The United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II sent a telegram of congratulations, and the Chinese government issued a postage stamp in their honor.

Looking back, Graham said teamwork allowed the team to complete the challenge. The experience taught him the importance of collaboration, a lesson he has since used to achieve many fruitful results of China-UK collaboration in the business and political worlds.

"The three different parts of the team had never met before, spoke different languages, and had different ideas of what should be done. I believe in engagement and not giving up. If the Taklimakan Desert can be crossed together, then anything is possible," said Graham, who has since become a Member of Parliament in the UK and chairman of its All-Party Parliamentary China Group.