China-UK forum set to launch in November
The East of England China Forum will seek to accelerate business activity between East England and China.
It will do this by encouraging an increase in investment, exports, exchange of talent, knowledge and skills, and leisure and business visitors.
There will also be a focus on boosting the travel connections between the two regions, with new direct air routes from London Stansted to China.
This move comes after a successful year for the north-west’s connections to China via its air routes.
Economic boosts to the region as a result of these connections were great with a 38 percent increase in the number of Chinese visitors to the north-west.
Andy Burnham, Mayor for Greater Manchester, said: “All parts of the North are benefitting from the economic, social and cultural connections that have forged as a result of the region’s first ever direct service to mainland China launching two years ago.”
London Stansted’s CEO Ken O’Toole is onboard with the forum, he said:
“As China becomes an increasingly important force in twenty-first century global trade, it is of paramount importance that the east of England, plus north and east London, has in place a clear strategy that allows it to nurture long-term economic ties with the country.
“In the next few years, China is expected to overtake the USA to become the biggest aviation market in the world and together with a relaxation of visa and flight restrictions for Chinese visitors, now is the time for the region to come together to secure new direct links between our region and China.”
The forum will launch at the House of Commons on Wednesday 21 November with politicians and businesses present.
A delegation of regional and local government representatives from Jiangsu Province in China will also attend along with representatives from Chinese tech and retail businesses.
