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CBBC Co-Hosts Business Roundtable with Shanghai Vice Mayor Lu Shan
On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) co-hosted a British Business Roundtable with the Shanghai Government. The roundtable brought together municipal leaders, relevant government departments, the British Consulate-General in Shanghai, and over 40 British companies to exchange views and strengthen business dialogue.
The Shanghai Commission of Commerce introduced Shanghai’s investment environment, highlighting opportunities under the 15th Five-Year Plan, updated foreign investment policies, and key platforms such as the Lingang Special Area and the Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone.
Matt Burney, British Consul-General in Shanghai, shared the positive outcomes of the UK Prime Minister’s recent visit to China and thanked the Shanghai Government and CBBC for their support. He emphasized the importance of turning bilateral visions into concrete cooperation, reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to supporting British businesses in Shanghai, and expressed confidence in expanding UK-China trade and investment through major cooperation platforms and exhibitions.
Tom Simpson, Managing Director, China, CBBC, highlighted new momentum in bilateral relations, including agreements on services and goods trade, whisky tariffs, and visa-free travel. He noted strong complementarities in sectors such as healthcare, finance, artificial intelligence, and green energy, and reaffirmed CBBC’s role as a “superconnector” in advancing bilateral cooperation.
During the enterprise exchange session, representatives from companies including Fidelity International, Standard Chartered, Jellycat, Haleon, Walgreens Boots Alliance, RX and GSK raised operational concerns, which were addressed by relevant authorities.
In his concluding remarks, Vice Mayor Lu Shan emphasized Shanghai’s commitment to high-level opening-up and a high-quality business environment, and encouraged British enterprises to deepen their presence in China. He called for closer government-enterprise cooperation to advance mutually beneficial China-UK trade and investment. The roundtable strengthened communication mechanisms, supported business development, and laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation in areas such as finance, healthcare, creative industries, and exhibitions.