UK-China seminar on Belt and Road Initiative held by CBBC

EJ Ward Sino.uk Published: 2017-07-26 14:47:13
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A seminar entitled 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): UK-China Cooperation and Opportunities' was held in China last week.

A seminar entitled 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): UK-China Cooperation and Opportunities' was held in China last week. [Photo: baidu.com]

A seminar entitled 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): UK-China Cooperation and Opportunities' was held in China last week. [Photo: baidu.com]

The event was organised by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), and attended by officers from the UK and Guangdong provincial governments, as well as attracting representatives from major enterprises of both countries, such as ABP, Atkins, PWC, Sanpower and KPMG. The seminar discussed and outlined opportunities for cooperation between China and UK as part of the BRI scheme.

"Chinese and British companies have the complementary skills and capabilities in finance, engineering and research that are required to realise infrastructure projects on such a vast scale. The Belt and Road initiative, when completed, will unite the economies of China and Europe, unlocking commercial potential across Eurasia and safeguarding global prosperity for generations to come." said David Bull, Deputy Director of China Advanced Manufacturing & Transport and HM Consul, Trade and Investment, Department of International Trade at the seminar in his speech.

Mr Ye Jiande, Chairman of Shenzhen CCPIT pointed out that Shenzhen attaches great importance to the cooperation with the UK in various fields and hopes the seminar could deepen cooperation between the two countries under the B&R framework.

"As the relationship between the UK and China develops, the UK-China trade and investment relationship also develops to a broader and higher level. Hopefully, this seminar could help strengthen the communication between UK and China enterprises and realise a higher advantage complementarity and win-win" said Mr Ye.

Yao Ling, Deputy Director of Institute of European and Eurasian Studies at CAITEC, presented an analysis of prospects of China-UK trade and economic cooperation under the Belt and Road initiative.

Jeff Astle, Executive Director China of CBBC, then outlined key sectors displaying opportunities for UK-China cooperation under the B&R framework based on a report jointly developed by CBBC and Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

"We see opportunities in a wide range of sectors, such as infrastructure, professional services, energy, tourism and science," said Jeff Astle, "and the Shenzhen city government has been encouraging local enterprises to invest in the BRI in recent years. These investment projects will benefit UK-China cooperation in multiple fields in the future."

The event also saw representatives from Sanpower Group, Atkins, and ABP Royal Albert Dock London share their experiences of projects under the B&R framework, elaborating on their cooperation models and outcomes. Attendees also discussed a series of hot topics, such as complementarity advantages for UK-China cooperation, financing, overseas secondment and risk management for Belt and Road projects.

In the past three years, China-Britain Business Council has carried out broad ranging research on the development and promotion of China's 'Belt and Road Initiatives'.

In September 2015, the China-Britain Business Council along with the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office jointly published a report on 'One Belt One Road'. The report was launched by the Chancellor during his visit to China. During President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK in the autumn of 2015, Lord Sassoon, the Chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, personally presented the report to President Xi.

In 2016, the China-Britain Business Council, together with Tsinghua University published the second bilingual report entitled 'China-Britain Belt and Road Case Studies Report 2016' in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This report was based on actual project case studies reflecting the ways in which both China and UK enterprises have cooperated.

In May 2017, the China-Britain Business Council and Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in the Ministry of Commerce (CAITEC) jointly published a third report during the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. "The Belt and Road Initiative in The Southern Silk Road: Cooperation and Opportunities Between UK and China" focuses on the southern silk road development, and encourages UK and Chinese firms to partner on projects in countries along this Belt and Road routes.

The China-Britain Business Council will continue to promote business cooperation for this purpose, based on the third edition report in multiple areas at home and abroad, and plans to carry out a series of seminars on the topic.


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