This year's UK-China Business Forum was well timed to focus on the opportunities and the complexities the China market presents - both for businesses already active in the market, and for those now focusing or re-focusing on China.

Speakers, representing HSBC, JLR, bp, InvestHK, ICBC Standard Bank, WPP, GSK, Diageo, and The University of Edinburgh, amongst many others, spoke on the opportunities available in the Chinese market for UK companies in key strategic sectors, including transportation and EV transition and biosciences and healthcare, as well as considering topics around supply chain and risk management.

Above: CBBC’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Seaton spoke at the event.

“It was terrific to have a full house for the Forum and to see the level of engagement and interest right through the afternoon. Together with the sessions focussed on key industries for the future, and the expert speakers and panellists giving the practitioners’ viewpoint on how best to take advantage of the new opportunities, I hope the Forum will have been both a valuable update for UK businesses already active in the market, and an encouragement to those considering entering it for the first time. And the comments from Bim Afolami, and Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang were a welcome sign of support and encouragement from the two governments.” 

– Andrew Seaton, Chief Executive Officer, China-Britain Business Council