On February 15, John Mclean OBE, Chair of the UK-China Business Development Center and Mr FANG Wenjian, Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), General Manager of Bank of China London Branch warmly welcomed the delegation led by the Mayor of Ningbo in London.

In his welcome speech, John indicated that over the last three years, Covid has created some geopolitical headwinds, however, we are now entering calmer covid waters and for the UK, it is now time for us to refresh our engagement with China and positively progress our bilateral relationship. The UK is committed to becoming a global UK with outstanding strengths in finance, technology and innovation. Ningbo is a vibrant city with a first-class port, developed economy and active international engagement. In our eyes, it is a good place to do business! The team of the UK-China Business Development Center in Zhejiang has been cultivating the local area for a long time, and we are full of confidence in continuing to promote the cooperation between the UK and Ningbo!

The role of CUKBDC is to innovate, pilot, collaborate and execute, creating new approaches for UK-China business collaboration. At present, CUKBDC is actively preparing the Chinese Lounge in London. The China Lounge aims to be a virtual hub with the aim of facilitating instant and centralized connections between China and the UK, providing a one-stop China-UK service for stakeholders from both countries and partners from business and academic networks!

Mr FANG Wenjian, Chairman of CCCUK, General Manager of Bank of China London Branch, extended his warm welcome to the delegation. As the first high-level Chinese government delegation to visit the CCCUK for business cooperation after the pandemic, the Ningbo delegation has opened a new chapter in Chinese delegations’ visits to the UK this year. It is a positive significance for promoting pragmatic economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and enhancing bilateral relations. In his speech, Mr Fang introduced the long history of the Bank of China London branch and the important role it has played in promoting and facilitating China-UK cooperation over the past 94 years.

CCCUK has played a unique role in China-UK economic and trade cooperation in recent years. CCCUK has always been an important tie and solid bridge between the UK and China enterprises, governments, and local communities, aimed to promote China-UK relations. At the same time, the CCCUK not only supports Chinese enterprises “going out” and establishing their businesses in the UK, but also helps “bringing in” the UK enterprises to the Chinese market for development. In the future, the CCCUK and Bank of China London branch are willing to provide strong support for Ningbo’s engagement with the UK.

The UK-China Business Development Center also invited a number of British companies from sectors like new energy, fintech, funds, investment and legal services, as well as representatives of some Chinese-funded enterprises that have achieved remarkable success in the UK market, to join the productive offline dialogue and discussions with Ningbo delegation.

Mayor Tang Feifan introduced the latest development of Ningbo. He also extended a warm invitation to John Mclean, Chair of the UK-China Business Development Center, and the UK attendees to visit Ningbo soon.

Through this event, CUKBDC and Ningbo government has reached a consensus, and will form a cooperation mechanism around the fields and industries agreed upon in this event, continue to work together, and help Ningbo develop and create for investment promotion, foreign trade expansion, and British technology, service, capital and other advantageous fields. New projects and opportunities.