China Club launch marks beginning of golden era in China-UK relations

The China Club launch event was held at Bank of China's London headquarters on July 28, with more than 100 guests attending from various business sectors, including Lord Wei of Shoreditch, and Jin Xu, the minister counselor for the Chinese embassy's economic and commercial office.

Powered by China Daily and hosted by talkholiday, China Club is an online platform dedicated to meeting the growing interest in China, especially the Chinese market and its growing tourism industry, and facilitating better understanding of Chinese economy and Chinese culture.

Handing over his gift of calligraphy to officially open the China Club, Jin said investment and trade cooperation between China and the United Kingdom is entering a golden era.

"Sino-UK trade reached $36.7 billion in the first six months of 2015, a similar level to 2014. The UK is China's second-largest trading partner in the European Union, while China remains the UK's second-largest trading partner outside the EU," Jin added.

With Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to the UK in October, at the personal invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, Jin said: "Close interaction at the top boosts mutual trust. In turn, this drives our business ties forward by opening up new areas and enabling new models of cooperation."

There are many areas in which China and the UK can cooperate more, he said, underlining that Britain was the first major Western country to announce its intention to join the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in March as a founding member.

Lord Wei of Shoreditch, the youngest member of the House of Lords and the first British-born person of Chinese origin to have become a member, said he was delighted to witness the birth of China Club, saying: "Now what happens in China truly reverberates instantaneously over here to the UK. I'd like to think that similarly what happens here in the UK will have an impact on China."

Both business and political relationships between two nations are deepening, and with 2015 being the year of culture, culture is also an important part of deepening our relationship, Lord Wei said, adding: "I am excited that we are going to be learning more about each other's cultures and I believe China Club would be an instrumental part in bringing that popular understanding of both cultures to each other."

Ji Tao, editor and managing director of China Daily Europe, hailed the collaboration, saying: "This is a very unique and immediate method of improving access to China."

He said that traveling is the best way to learn about other people and their culture. Once someone makes a trip to China and sets foot on the ground there, he or she would be in a better position to understand many issues about China.

"I believe very soon China Club will be seen as the main first contact channel for business or simply just to travel to any Chinese region. We want to help our readers and make it easier for them to learn about everything China has to offer.

Chris Newlands, CEO of talkholiday, added: "This is an exciting opportunity to show our support for China as they look to promote their country and culture from a tourism and trade perspective.

"The aim of China Club is to amass a significant number of people from all over the globe with an interest in business and tourism to all destinations in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan."

As one of China Club's business partners Zhang Lei, general manager of China Mobile UK, is very excited about the alliance, saying: "It would be a great opportunity for business to share their experiences about China and learn from each other."

wangmingjie@mail.chinadailyuk.com

Jin Xu, minister counselor for the Chinese embassy's economic and commercial office (third right); Lord Wei of Shoreditch (fourth left); Ji Tao, editor of China Daily Europe (second right); Chris Newlands, CEO of talkholiday (first right); Sun Yu, CEO of Bank of China UK (third left); Zhang Lei, general manager of China Mobile UK (second left); and Zhang Mei, managing director of CTS Horizons UK (L1), jointly inaugurated the China Club with Jin's calligraphy on July 28. Photos by Jiang Shan / China Daily

Guests take part in the China Club event.

Gerard Lyons, chief economic adviser to the Mayor of London (left) and Richard Muir, deputy chief executive at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Lin Ning (center), chief representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in the UK, talks to guests at the event.

David Collyer, tourism director for Bicester Village, which will soon open its second China store in Shanghai.

Guests at the event. Photos by Jiang Shan / China Daily

Ji Tao, editor of China Daily Europe, and Chris Newlands of talkholiday answer journalists' questions about China Club.

(China Daily European Weekly 07/31/2015 page4)