As we welcome in the new year and approach the Chinese Year of the Horse in February, we hope you enjoy looking back at some of CBBC’s events and engagements in 2025 through this collection of pictures.

One highlight of 2025 was in March when our former Chair Sir Sherard Cowper-Cowles and our President Lord James Sassoon attended the meeting between President Xi Jinping and 40 global business leaders in the Great Hall of the People. CBBC was one of two business organisations represented at the meeting, alongside the US-China Business Council.

In terms of major bilateral engagements, last year began with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visiting China for the resumed Economic and Financial Dialogue. With jointly agreed policy outcomes encompassing 69 items, the visit set the tone for a year marked by government-to-government reengagement. CBBC organised a reception for business leaders in Shanghai with the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai to meet with the Chancellor.

Later in September, Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle visited Beijing for the first UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission trade talks since 2018, which CBBC attended as part of the business delegation. A series of MoUs were signed during the visit, committing both sides to further enhance cooperation and work on areas of market access.

Throughout 2024-2025, CBBC also maintained its record of delivering exceptional events across the UK and China, including the China-Scotland Business Awards, the UK-China Business Forum 2025, China Consumer, UK Investment Conference, and the UK-Greater Bay Area Conference. These gatherings explored themes such as inward investment opportunities into the UK, and featured distinguished speakers from organisations including HSBC, DLA Piper, Popmart, Caixin Insight, Octopus Energy, and Mingyang Smart Energy.

Overall, 2025 was a very positive year for UK-China engagement. This was reflected in our trade relationship, which grew in total value by 5.7% in the four quarters ending Q2 2025. We begin 2026 intent on building on this momentum to propel UK-China trade and investment further and hope to see you at more of our events throughout the Year of the Horse.

View our year in pictures here