China Direct

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: press.office@cbi.org.uk. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets) and CBI China (@CBIBEIJING) on Twitter.

PwC launches its 2017 'Chinese Cities of Opportunity' Report

Our thanks to CBI member PwC China for sharing their latest 'The Chinese Cities of Opportunity' Report.

This is a series of city survey reports jointly released by the CDRF and PwC China and was for discussion at the recently concluded China Development Forum held in Beijing earlier this month.

Four editions of the Chinese Cities of Opportunity report have been published since 2014.

Please refer to the attached for a summary and the link below to download the full report.

Download Chinese Cities of Opportunity

The full Cities of Opportunity 7 report is available at:

http://www.pwccn.com/home/chi/cities_of_opportunity_7_chi.html

 

For enquiries please contact: yang.ll.liu@cn.pwc.com or Tel: 00 86 10 65338717 

CBI Member Nottingham University launches initiative to tackle Chinese health challenges

 

The University of Nottingham has launched an initiative which aims to address major public health challenges in China through research, education and training.

China is facing a number of public health challenges, particularly chronic diseases in an ageing population, such as diabetes, dementia, heart conditions and respiratory problems.

The University of Nottingham Health China initiative will support collaborative health research and teaching between The University of Nottingham, and a range of partners in the healthcare sector based both in the UK and China.

The objective of Nottingham Health China is to increase the amount and quality of research which is taking place between UK and Chinese healthcare institutions, by facilitating interactions between UK and China based researchers and clinicians. It also aims to become the gateway for other UK public and private healthcare providers to enter the Chinese market.

Nottingham Health China will also contribute to the provision of healthcare education in China by providing high quality programmes tailored to China’s healthcare sector needs, and will also engage with both the government and Chinese private sector.

Nottingham Health China Lead, Professor Richard Hubbard, from The University of Nottingham, together with education professionals from both the UK and China officially launched the initiative.

Speaking about the initiative, Professor Hubbard said: “Nottingham Health China is an exciting opportunity for researchers, educators and health care professionals from a wide range of backgrounds in Nottingham and Ningbo to come together and work on projects to improve public health both in the UK and China.”

Researchers will be focusing on a number of key work strands of the initiative, including nursing and midwifery, mental health, medical education, healthcare software, epidemiology and other key areas of need.

Several healthcare partnerships between The University of Nottingham and China have already been established. Following the launch of the Evidence-Based Healthcare Centre in November 2015, which is a part of the Nottingham Health China initiative, a group of health experts from the University visited partner organisations in Ningbo and successfully organised a symposium on Evidence-Based Healthcare early in 2016.

Professor John Atherton, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine and Health services at The University of Nottingham, believes that Nottingham Health China has a vital role to play, he said:   “The UK and China face many similar health challenges. In line with the ‘Health China 2030’ vision approved in August 2016, the Nottingham Health China initiative will address key healthcare issues relevant to Ningbo and Nottingham, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles, improving health services and developing health industries.”

For more information about the Nottingham Health China initiative, please contact the Asia Business Centre on: asiabusiness@nottingham.ac.uk

For more details about The University of Nottingham’s services for businesses, visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/servicesforbusiness

New DH Lawrence Auditorium opened at Nottingham University Ningbo Campus

 

CBI member The University of Nottingham announced that Nottingham’s links to China had been strengthened with a tribute to one of its most famous writers.

British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward visited the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), where she officially opened the DH Lawrence Auditorium.

Ambassador Woodward met with students and staff, including Provost Professor Chris Rudd, to find out more about life at the University, which is home to 7,000 students studying for British degrees.

The new technologically sophisticated auditorium, which can seat 1,000 people, will provide more teaching and learning space for students at the campus.

Please read more here.

Nottingham Ningbo agree on Finance Research Centre

CBI member The University of Nottingham announced that the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the People’s Bank of China signed a contract to establish the Inclusive Finance Research Centre.

The establishment of the centre will help integrate the financial sector and university resources, create a platform for collaborative research, and provide research support and policy recommendations for the construction of the previously formed Inclusive Finance Demonstration Area in Ningbo.

Ningbo is the first representative city to set up inclusive finance development, which helps to provide micro-financing for goods and services in deprived or vulnerable communities.

Please read more here.

University of Nottingham Ningbo China secures RMB 5.6 million for eco-friendly and “smart” building technologies

CBI member The University of Nottingham announced that the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) had secured RMB 5.6 million to help the Chinese construction industry use eco-friendly and “smart” building technologies.

China’s building industry currently lags behind many other industrial nations, with low production efficiency and high energy usage affecting many new-build properties. The current situation could delay the progress of Chinese “smart” cities, which aim to reduce resource consumption and cost and use digital technologies to benefit their citizens.

In a bid to tackle the issue, UNNC’s Department of Architecture and Built Environment is now leading a “GIS-BIM Based Green Smart Building Technical Innovation Team”, with support from the Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau.

The innovation team comprises 22 researchers from UNNC (from Built Environment, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, and Geographical Sciences), local design institutes, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) consulting companies in Ningbo.

The team will also invite the Ningbo construction industry’s governing body to provide resources, pilot projects, and platforms to inform the research. Over the next three years, the innovation team will explore the potential of Geographic Information System (GIS) and BIM technologies and how they can be integrated into local construction practices in Ningbo. GIS is a technical system to implement the collection, storage, management, calculation, analysis, display, and description of geospatial information data.

The results help to understand what is happening in geographical space, which can increase efficiency in building planning and design. BIM is a growing technology used in the building industry worldwide. It uses digital technics to create and use intelligent 3D models to communicate building project decisions.

In 2015, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development announced suggestions of BIM implementation. Shanghai even set a clear timeline for the promotion of BIM, which would be started in pubic-funded projects. UNNC’s team aims to devise a platform to handle database management, modelling management, smart operation management, and lifecycle monitoring management.

Information extraction, storage, transfer, and modifications will be completed quickly on the platform and updated in the network cloud system to synchronise with smart terminals. At the end of the project, the team plans to pilot the platform on construction projects in Ningbo and to share BIM development recommendations with relevant government departments to benefit the Ningbo-based construction industry and support the future of its smart cities.

Please read more here.

£6 million Nottingham-Ningbo New Materials Institute further strengthens UK-China relations

 

CBI member The University of Nottingham is joining forces with the Ningbo Government to establish the Nottingham-Ningbo New Materials Research Institute, a deal valued at £6m over five years.

The announcement of the University’s collaboration coincided with a visit by the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise, the Rt. Hon Anna Soubry MP, to the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) in September, where she met some of UNNC’s most enterprising young graduates who are setting up their own start-up businesses in China.

During her trip, Ms. Soubry also announced a £1m joint Low-Carbon Research Centre between the University and the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute. Business Minister Anna Soubry said, “Higher education is one of the U.K.’s most important exports to China and the University of Nottingham is at the forefront of this drive. It is doing fantastic work to build strong partnerships with Chinese institutions and provide thousands of local students with world-class British degrees. This new £6million materials research institute will boost collaboration even more and pave the way for new business opportunities.”

As part of the University’s ongoing relationship with the city in Zhejiang province, the aim of the Institute is to create five international research teams, and, in the longer-term, to commercialise the research in order to promote the rapid development of the new materials industry in Ningbo.

The world-leading research taking place will look at composite materials and engineering, including soil mechanics, particle materials and technologies, sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing technology, new energy materials and technology, and advanced materials and technology.

The Institute will also be home to new businesses in these sectors that will be supported by the Ningbo National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Ningbo Municipal Science and Technology Bureau.

University of Nottingham Ningbo China launches new copyright research centre

 

CBI member The University of Nottingham announced that a new research centre examining Chinese digital copyright was launched at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC).

Combining British and Chinese expertise, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Digital Copyright and IP Research Centre in China will investigate the global copyright challenges and opportunities for creative and tech industries.

The Centre is supported by a £500,000 grant from the AHRC and Newton Fund over two years with match funding from the Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau. It will act as a key national research hub with links to related projects and research groups in Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities.

Currently being recruited, a professor of digital copyright research will direct the Centre and develop a small team in Ningbo, including research fellows and postgraduate researchers.

Please read more here.