On June 13, the British Consulate-General in Guangzhou hosted a celebration for Charles III's birthday.
(Photo provided by event organizer)
Xiao Yafei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, indicated that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the UK have fostered increasingly profound exchanges at all levels and across all fields, injecting strong momentum into the growth of our bilateral relations.
“Guangdong, as China's forefront of reform and opening-up and a vital gateway, has always maintained close ties and cooperation with the UK,” said Xiao.
He stressed that BYD electric buses running on UK city streets and AstraZeneca establishing its regional headquarters on Guangzhou International Bio Island are all vivid testaments to the effectiveness of our economic and trade partnerships.
British Ambassador to China Dame Caroline Wilson DCMG expressed the hope of expanding educational partnerships with China to promote mutual understanding, innovation, and long-term cooperation, ensuring that UK education aligns with global technological innovation needs.
She stated, "The UK engages with China in a consistent, long-term, and strategic manner. From tackling climate change to developing trade, there are many areas where we can cooperate.”
British Consul-General Sarah Mann said, "We strive to engage with governments and enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to understand their development plans, especially opportunities for UK companies. The Greater Bay Area is rapidly developing in many sectors where the UK has strengths, such as smart cities, low-carbon technologies, healthcare, education, engineering, and the marine economy. I hope to see more cooperation between the UK and South China in the future."
In 2024, the Guangdong-UK trade volume reached nearly 153 billion RMB, accounting for over one-fifth of the total China-UK trade. Currently, more than 500 Chinese enterprises have established operations in the UK, with two-way investment stock exceeding £36.9 billion.
Reporter: Xie Hongzhou
Editors: James, Shen He, Wei Shen
