The British Chamber of Commerce South China, formerly the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong, held its 30th anniversary gala at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou on September 5. Business leaders, diplomatic envoys, government representatives and guests from across China and the United Kingdom gathered to mark the milestone.
The gala was held under the theme "Mind the Gap: A Botanical Journey of Roots, Resilience and Renewal." For the chamber, this "Gap" is at once a connection across time, a bridge between cultures and a compass guiding businesses through uncertainty. For 30 years, the chamber has served as a platform for helping its members cross every gap along the way.
A specially designed "time tunnel" installation at the gala drew on a motif of botanical growth to thread together key milestones in China-UK commercial relations over three decades. The custom menu paired classic British ingredients with seasonal Cantonese produce, a nod to how the two business cultures have grown together through exchange.
During the gala, the chamber reflected on its three decades of serving members and promoting trade, investment and cultural exchange between China and the UK. Guests watched the chamber's 30th anniversary documentary, which traced its growth from its founding to its present standing.
Mark Clayton, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce South China, said that for 30 years the chamber's work has centered on its members. In recent years, the chamber has done substantial work supporting Chinese companies going global, an area where British professional, financial and legal services firms have particular strengths, making it as much an opportunity for British members as a service to Chinese business, he said.
He added that the chamber would continue to work in that area, alongside supply chain resilience and the green transition, to bring British and Chinese companies together.
A representative of Bitong Energy, a platinum member of the chamber, said that over the past three decades the chamber has served as a bridge connecting British technological innovation with the economy of South China, opening practical pathways for multinational and local companies to grow together.
Bitong Energy, a China-UK joint venture that pairs Octopus Energy's clean technology with local operational expertise, is both a beneficiary and an active participant in the business ecosystem the chamber has fostered, the representative said, adding that the company looks forward to deeper collaboration with fellow members in green technology and energy management through the chamber's platform.
Founded in 1996, the chamber traces its origins to an informal networking group formed by British business professionals then working in Guangzhou. Over three decades, it has grown into a vital bridge for China-UK economic and trade cooperation, representing more than 150 member companies across international education, professional services, supply chain, healthcare and other sectors and hosting more than 50 events a year.
In 2024, the chamber adopted its current name and expanded its reach from Guangdong to the wider South China region.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Photos | British Chamber of Commerce South China
