In a speech to the second UK-China Business Leaders’ Summit, Paul Drechsler discussed the beginning of the “golden era” of UK-China relations.
As the CBI celebrates the 10th anniversary of our Beijing office this year, Paul highlighted the CBI’s strong relationship with China and our commitment to support the continued growth of bilateral trade and investment on behalf of our members.
Following Chinese president Xi Jinping’s landmark state visit to the UK last autumn, which yielded nearly £40 billion worth of deals, the UK-China relationship has reached new heights, providing opportunities across the British business community and every UK region.
For example, CBI members Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airports Group will support the opening of two important new trade routes to China this summer – Gatwick will launch the UK’s first ever direct flights to Chongqing, one of the world’s largest urban centres and a major manufacturing and transport hub in southwest China, while Manchester will begin non-stop flights to Beijing, the inaugural direct service from the North of England to China.
The 2016 UK-China Business Leaders’ Summit was organised with the support of the CBI, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Chinese Embassy in the UK, the British Embassy in Beijing, UK Trade and Investment, the China-Britain Business Council, the 48 Group Club, the British East Asian Council, London & Partners, the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and the IoD City China Interest Group.
