Mayor Gong welcomed the delegation and noted the important role CBBC plays as a bridge for UK–China engagement. He recognised the long-standing presence of many CBBC member companies in Shanghai, highlighting their contributions to the city’s reform, opening-up, and economic development. Mayor Gong said Shanghai is accelerating efforts to deepen reform and expand high-level openness, with a strong focus on driving high-quality growth. He emphasised that Shanghai’s continued development will create new opportunities for UK businesses, and expressed his hope for even closer cooperation in the years ahead.

The CBBC delegation reaffirmed its confidence in Shanghai’s long-term prospects, recognising the city as one of the world’s most international and dynamic global centres. The delegation stressed that the UK and China have highly complementary economies and should work together to expand trade and open cooperation in the face of rising global protectionism. CBBC expressed appreciation for the support Shanghai has provided to our member companies and reiterated our goal to help more UK firms establish a presence in the city, while supporting more Chinese companies in their global expansion—advancing a mutually beneficial UK–China commercial cooperation.