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UK Has Major Role to Play in China's Western Strategy, UK Minister
British Minister for Trade Richard Caborn said Friday that UK has an important role to play in the drive of China's western development strategy.
Caborn said that the Chinese are very interested in Britain's experience of regional development and how UK is working to remedy the disparities within and between its regions.
"Obviously, China's challenges are more acute than our own, but we have a lot to offer in experience and expertise," the minister said.
Caborn told a luncheon given by the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong that he found both in Beijing and in the West a strong commitment to making the western strategy work and to harnessing the enormous pool of talent in the western provinces to bring the standard of living and levels of economic prosperity there up to those on the eastern seaboard.
He said that one of his overriding purpose in his visit to China over the last few days was to investigate at first hand China's western development program and to explore the opportunities that it could offer to British business.
"We already have a presence there through our Consulate in Chongqing, and a growing number of British companies who are active in the region," Caborn said.
"I am keen that we should now build on this in a structured and focused way to ensure that we can work in partnership with the Chinese provincial authorities to make a real difference to the overall prosperity of the western provinces," the minister added.
Caborn noticed that the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is planning a mission shortly to Chengdu and Chongqing and takes a very pro-active role in promoting the role that Hong Kong can play as a gateway into the mainland.
He said he is sure that there would be ways in which the British Ministry for Trade can work closely with the chamber in the development of their strategy. "This would also fit in well with the new and more strategic approach that we are taking to China as a whole," Caborn said.
"What we are developing is a much closer partnership with the China Britain Business Council to ensure that business gets the best possible service, but in a more focused and targeted way," Caborn said.
The minister also stressed the challenges of the "new economy," in particular the challenges which both governments and business in the more developed economies face. "I am sure this is an issue which is highly relevant here in Hong Kong which is fast establishing itself as the information and technology hub for the Asia Pacific," the British minister said.
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