China Direct

UK-China Trade Summary 2020

Kindly find a one page summary of UK-China trade stats for 2020 attached below.

China Direct would like to thank the CBBC for kindly providing this update.

Download 201229_China_investment_factsheet_final

UKVI - March 2019 Update

 

Dear CBI members & partners,

Kindly find attached the UK Visa & Immigration Service's March 2019 China Update:

Download March Visa report UKVI

 

CBI welcomes John Allan as New President

CBI WELCOMES JOHN ALLAN AS NEW PRESIDENT CBI members have endorsed the appointment of John Allan CBE as the President of the UK’s largest business organisation at its Annual General Meeting in London. Mr Allan, Chairman of Tesco and Chairman of Barratt Developments, succeeds Paul Drechsler CBE, Chairman of the Bibby Line Group and Chairman of the Board of Teach First, to become the 27th CBI President since 1965.   John Allan CBE, CBI President, said: “It is a great honour to be elected CBI President at this critical time for the UK’s economy and businesses. “As a country we face great challenges and I will try to ensure that the CBI’s rational, evidence-based solutions are presented clearly and forcefully to all concerned, and in particular to the Government. “Whether it is finding the best possible outcome to Brexit or focussing energy upon the long-term issues, like the Industrial Strategy, skills and infrastructure, we will campaign honestly and clearly for a future which is good for the British economy and good for the British people. “Paul has been an outstanding President helping to steer the business agenda through challenging waters. I look forward to carrying his work forward and to working closely with Carolyn and all the rest of the very talented CBI team.”   Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome John to the CBI as our new President. His passion, and the breadth of his experience and knowledge – formed over decades at some of the largest employers in the country – will be of tremendous value to us at such an important juncture for British industry.”   Since 2015, Mr. Allan has been Chairman of Tesco, the largest private sector employer in the UK. He has also been Chairman of Barratt Developments since 2014. Previously, amongst other senior roles, he was non-executive director at Worldpay where he was formerly Chairman. He was Chairman of Dixons Retail and Chief Financial Officer and a Board Member of Deutsche Post DHL. He was also previously Chairman of Care UK Health & Social Care and a non-executive director of the Home Office Supervisory Board, and was Chairman of London First from 2014 to 2018, a business group representing leaders of firms in the capital. He has been a non-executive director at: Royal Mail, PHS Group, National Grid, Wolseley, Hamleys, 3i and Connell. In 2006, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to freight transport.     19 June 2018   Notes to Editors:   The CBI President plays a leading role in the organisation’s advocacy work, meeting with ministers and senior civil servants, promoting British business internationally and chairing the CBI Board. The role of President is an unpaid post, and the President can stand for a total of three terms as set out in the CBI’s Royal Charter.   Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.   Media Contact: CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: [email protected]. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets) on Twitter.

 

CBI makes the case for British Business in China

 

CBI MAKES THE CASE FOR BRITISH BUSINESS IN CHINA

The CBI’s Director-General is visiting China this week on a trade visit with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

“The Sino-British relationship is a tremendous success story. From services to schools, and iPhones to tea, our countries have a special and integral place in each other’s lives.

“British businesses are keen to play their part in further deepening and engraining the economic ties between China and the United Kingdom. With the consumer market alone worth over £3.3 trillion, this relationship creates thousands of jobs in the UK and China, raising living standards and boosting productivity.

“As the UK forges a new global trading future, it is well ahead of the curve in making the most of its relationship with the world’s fastest growing economy. By making inroads into China’s lesser economically known regions, the UK stands to profit from China’s move from manufacturing and infrastructure into technology and services, writing a new chapter in the golden era of relations.”

30 January 2018

Notes to Editors:

Read the CBI’s latest report on British trade and investment with China, Sterling Assets China.

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

Media Contact:

CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: [email protected]. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets), Carolyn Fairbairn (CBICarolyn) and CBI China (CBIBEIJING) on Twitter.

Exeter and Tsinghua Universities establish jointly-awarded Doctoral degree programme

CBI Member The University of Exeter and Tsinghua University have launched a jointly-awarded PhD degree programme in climate and environmental sciences, it has been announced. The doctoral programme will support six students to be co-supervised between Tsinghua’s Department of Earth System Science and two Colleges at Exeter that conduct research on earth systems and environmental sciences.

The jointly-awarded degree programme reinforces the substantial research collaboration currently being developed between leading academics from Exeter and Tsinghua in these crucial fields of research.

A formal partnership agreement for this innovative new doctoral programme was signed by Professor Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council, and the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Exeter, Professor Sir Steve Smith, during a recent high-level visit to China.

Please read more here.

China Sterling Assets Report - Chinese Version

Dear CBI Members and Partners,

Kindly find the Chinese version of the CBI's first China Sterling Assets Report attached below for your reference.

Many thanks.

Download CBI China Sterling Assets Report_Chinese

Download CBI China Sterling Assets Report

CBI Sterling Assets Report on China Roadshow

 

  

The inaugural Sterling Assets Report has been on a pan-China Roadshow since its launch on Thursday 02 November in Beijing.

The objective of the Roadshow was to circulate the Report's key findings to the diverse and dynamic UK business network in China and encourage policymakers and local officials to use the Report to promote greater UK-China business investment. 

Additionally the Report was received by business stakeholders the CBBC, British Chambers, Department of International Trade (DIT) and a visiting delegation of the All Party Parliamentary China Group in Guangzhou.

China Direct would like to sincerely thank HM Consuls Cecile Elbeleidi in Chongqing, HM Consul Karen Maddocks in Guangzhou, HM Consul John Edwards in Shanghai and HM Consul Nick Whittingham in Wuhan for their support.

 

    

Please note that China Direct will have the Chinese language version of the Report available for review and download by mid-November.

Kindly find the original Report and Executive Summary attached below for your reference.

Download CBI China Sterling Assets Report

Download Sterling Assets China Executive Summary

Thank you. 

  

UK Ahead Of The Curve In China Investment Strategy - CBI

 

EMBARGOED: 00:01 Hours, Thursday 02 November, 2017UK AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN CHINA INVESTMENT STRATEGY – CBI

UK is China’s second largest European trading partner  

The UK is shifting its investment into inner regions of China and into new sectors, ahead of the curve of other nations, according to the CBI’s first ever Sterling Assets China report.

Download CBI China Sterling Assets Report

In 2016, the UK was China’s second largest trading partner in the European Union (behind only Germany) and the eighth worldwide, doing £55 billion worth of trade in goods with China. Indeed, after the USA and Germany it is the only country in the list of China’s top nine trading partners not in the Asia Pacific region.

The UK also ranks eighth in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) into China over the last decade, at £4 billion. However, unlike other nations, Great Britain is shifting its focus from coastal to inland provinces, which have historically received a smaller share of FDI, so as to mirror the Chinese government’s Belt and Road development plans. Over half (57%) of British investment in 2015 (over £880 million) went to inland regions, led by Heilongjiang (£313 million) in the north east and Henan (£276 million) in the centre.

Of the £18.1 billion worth of UK exports to China in 2015, Shanghai tops the list (£4.2 billion), followed by Beijing (£2.4 billion) and Guangdong (£1.3 billion). 21% of British exports to China were in transport technology (automotive, rail, air and maritime), 12% in machinery & electrical, 8% in chemical products and 5% in metals. The UK’s top service export was travel (£1.5 billion), with 270,000 Chinese visiting the UK and 91,000 Chinese students enrolling in British universities – far more than from any other country.

Guy Dru Drury MBE, CBI Head of China, said:

“The Sino-British relationship is a great success story. As we delve deeper into the Golden Era of ties between China and the United Kingdom, we have so much to offer each other, and British business is keen to play its part.

“From cars to chemicals, and services to schools, British organisations – especially many smaller companies – are tapping into a growing market in China, one that plays to the UK’s best competitive strengths. With the consumer market worth over £3.3 trillion, instantly recognisable British products are a particularly strong match for a growing generation of affluent Chinese. Moreover, this relationship creates thousands of jobs in the UK and China, raising living standards and boosting productivity.

“As the UK forges a new global trading future, it is well ahead of the curve in making the most of its relationship with the world’s fastest growing economy. By making inroads into China’s lesser economically known regions, the UK stands to profit from China’s move from manufacturing and infrastructure into technology and services.”

Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG OBE, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, said:

“Supporting UK-based companies to invest and operate overseas and become global businesses is part of our strategy to expand mutually beneficial trading relationships around the world. This is especially so in China, the world’s second largest and fastest growing economy.

“This report showcases a wide range of British investment and highlights the strengths and growing confidence of British companies. Investment in China by British companies can generate wealth for the UK, support British jobs, help build UK-based supply chains, and support China’s own economic development.

“As we continue to address the challenges for businesses investing across the globe and help them to make the most of opportunities, positive and proactive engagement of UK and Chinese businesses remains vitally important.”

Between 2015 and 2016, greenfield project investment into China exceeded £2.25 billion. The financial services sector saw the highest value investments (£488 million), followed by logistics (£292 million), consumer products (£268 million) and business services (£209 million).

02 November 2017

Notes to Editors:

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

The CBI 2017 Annual Conference will take place on Monday 6th November at the NEW LOCATION of the InterContinental London – The 02 hotel. Media can now register here (clicking on the “Media” box, entering the code 7286). Please note that journalists will be asked to upload a photo as part of the registration process. The closing date for applications is Thursday 02 November.

Follow the CBI (@CBItweets) on Twitter and on the day of annual conference using the hashtag #CBI2017.

Media Contact:

CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: [email protected]. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets) and CBI China (@CBIBEIJING) on Twitter.

UK & Cambodia - Introduction & Trade/Investment Opportunities

Following a visit to SE Asia last week China Direct would like to share trade & investment opportunities in Cambodia to its UK and international CBI membership.

Kindly refer to the following overview presented at a UK-Cambodia business event in Phnom Penh on 11.05.17. 

Download HMA Cambodia Briefing_May 2017

For any follow on questions or business related queries kindly contact Ms. Olivia Widen, Director, Department for International Trade (Cambodia), directly via: [email protected] 

Guy Dru Drury, CBI Chief Representative, China NE SE Asia, would like to sincerely thank HMA Bill Longhurst, Deputy Head of Mission Cashel Gleeson and the team at the British Embassy in Phnom Penh for their hospitality and support.

UK-China Monthly Partners Round Up - August 2016

 

 Dear CBI members and partners,

Please find attached a summary of partner activities in China for August 2016.

A full report can be accessed below.

• British Council calls for proposals for education pilot projects in China
• British Council seeks U.K. football coaches in China
• CBBC Chief Executive appointed Investment Advisor to Hainan government
• CBBC delegation visits Jiangsu province
• CBBC hosts brand-protection session with Alibaba in Shanghai
• CBBC and IPCC sign agreement with Tencent to protect IP on Weixin/WeChat
• CBBC joins forces with LUXE to present InnoBrand 2016
• CBBC to survey members on U.K.-China bilateral trade
• CBBC takes delegation to Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum in Xi’an
• Chinese Ambassador to U.K. authors article on Hinkley Point in Financial Times
• Chinese Ambassador to U.K. meets with Deputy Governor of Bank of England
• Chinese Ambassador to U.K. meets with Lord Howell of Guildford
• European Chamber meets with Tianjin Foreign Affairs Office
• Manchester and Wuhan celebrate three decades of co-operation
• New British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macao appointed
• Shanghai promotes Football is GREAT at Manchester United’s football school event
• Super priority visa service opens up to students in China
• U.K.-China Urbanisation Platform launched in Beijing
• U.K. Minister for Asia makes first official visit to China
• U.K. Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property speaks at IP forum in Hong Kong
• U.K. opens applications for 2017/18 Chevening Scholarships in Hong Kong

 

Download CBI China, U.K.-China Monthly Roundup, August 2016