UK Businesses Eager to Strengthen Ties, Cooperate Further with China

09 Feb, 2024

UK Businesses Eager to Strengthen Ties, Cooperate Further with China

Business leaders in the United Kingdom (UK) are expressing their readiness to strengthen cooperation with China, emphasizing its increasing significance in a post-Brexit era. This sentiment was echoed during the "Icebreakers" 2024 Chinese New Year celebration, jointly hosted by esteemed organizations including the 48 Group Club, the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK), and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC).

Dating back to 1954, the historic trade mission led by Jack Perry laid the foundation for modern trade links with China, defying Western embargoes and fostering the formation of the 48 Group Club, known as the "Icebreakers."

Chinese Premier Li Qiang highlighted the vital role of enhanced UK-China cooperation in promoting global peace and prosperity, urging continued efforts from both nations. Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the CBBC, emphasized China's growing importance to the UK post-Brexit, citing its substantial market and demand for British products.

Stephen Perry, president emeritus of the 48 Group Club, emphasized the inevitability of China's advancement and the imperative for cooperation. Dominic Barton, Rio Tinto Chair, underscored China's significance as a market, source of innovation, talent, and partnership.

These statements underscore a mutual recognition of the importance of deepening ties between the UK and China, not only for economic prosperity but also for global stability and advancement.