BEIJING: Despite recent talk in the West of “de-risking” of relations with China, businesspeople in Northern England have made a case for stronger trade links, voicing optimism about the benefits of forging long-term partnerships.
About 50 business representatives of companies across sectors based in Yorkshire attended the China-Northern England Cooperation Forum, themed “Partnership for a Prosperous Future”, in Leeds on July 17.
The forum was organized by the China-Britain Business Council, or CBBC, and the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK. Zheng Zeguang, China’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, made the keynote speech at the forum.
“The world economy is facing multiple headwinds. Major developed economies are not performing so well, and the recovery of developing countries is also facing difficulties,” Zheng said. “This highlights the need for even closer cooperation between China and the UK.”
According to the UK Department for Business and Trade, the total trade in goods and services between China and Britain was 111 billion pounds ($143.3 billion) last year, up by 18.3 percent compared with 2021. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
