On Thursday 23 May 2024, the UK-China Business Briefing 2024 was successfully held at Lancaster University.

The Business Briefing is an annual event organised by Lancaster University Confucius Institute with the aim of fostering business cooperation and exploring the dynamic relationship between the UK and China. The briefing attracted around 100 participants including business leaders, academics, government officials and university students.

The event was opened by Sarah Kemp, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University, highlighting the University’s global engagement and recent advancements in research and teaching. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor extended her best wishes for a successful event, emphasizing the importance of such gatherings in bridging international business communities and the University’s role in such engagement.

The briefing was divided into two key sessions: ‘UK-China Relations and Business Opportunities’ and ‘Seizing New Opportunities in UK and China Business.’

The keynote address was first delivered by Mr Rui Tang, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Manchester. Mr Tang underscored the robust foundation and vast potential for China-UK cooperation, noting that bilateral trade between the two nations had surpassed $100 billion for two consecutive years. He highlighted the remarkable 135.5 percent increase in UK investment in China over the past year, reflecting strong demand and optimistic economic and trade cooperation expectations.

Following Mr Tang's address, Sir Mark Hendrick, Member of Parliament for Preston, spoke on the significance of nurturing a positive UK-China relationship amidst growing global protectionism. Sir Mark identified three pivotal areas for collaboration: economy and trade, climate and green technology, and electric vehicles, stressing that cooperation in these sectors could address common challenges and benefit both nations.

The second session, ‘Seizing New Opportunities in UK and China Business,’ featured a keynote speech by Mr Martin Barrow, GBS, CBE, former Chairman of Jardine Matheson China. Mr Barrow noted the necessity of cooperation over opposition in bilateral business relations, setting the stage for a panel discussion. The panel comprised Jurga Zilinskiene MBE, Founder & CEO of Guildhawk; Winnie Jinyue Cao, Tax Partner and Head of China Business Group at Blick Rothenberg; and David Schulte of SERES Management, chaired by Lu Xu, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University. Each panelist shared their valuable insights and perspectives on the evolving landscape of UK-China business cooperation, opportunities and challenges.

The UK-China Business Briefing at Lancaster University provides a platform for exchanging ideas and forging new partnerships as part of our commitment to boosting global understanding.

We would like to extend our appreciation to all the guests for their contribution and participation, and to our brilliant team at Lancaster University Confucius Institute for their dedication and hard work.