New look for Chinese chamber in London

Organization to help member companies from China and UK forge stronger business links

The renamed China Chamber of Commerce in the UK was launched in London on Dec 15, signifying a milestone in the association's development and journey to serve member companies.

The ceremony, attended by several hundred business leaders and representatives from the Chinese embassy, was held on the same day as the chamber's annual meeting.

Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador in London, congratulated the chamber on its relaunch, adding that the organization has played an important role in supporting Chinese businesses for many years.

He said this year is a significant year for UK-China relations, as many deals have been signed, especially during President Xi Jinping's state visit in October, and added that he is looking forward to closer cooperation between the two countries.

The chamber was formerly the China Enterprises Association in Britain. Members voted to change the name in September.

Si Bingjun, chairman of chamber, says the relaunch was a milestone, as the organization has grown significantly since its founding in 2001. The organization has about 170 members, of which two-thirds are Chinese businesses in the UK. The rest are British companies that do business with China.

The name change comes at a time when the organization is striving to provide more professional services for its members, as a consequence of the growing numbers of Chinese business in the UK.

Whereas "association" implied a loose structure, changing to "chamber" implies a more professional structure focusing mainly on business, Si says.

Jin Xu, minister counselor of the economic and commercial office at the Chinese embassy, says the name change is significant because it reflects Chinese businesses' increasing importance in the UK.

The chamber plays an important role in bringing together Chinese and British businesses that want to develop trade and investment relationships, and the services it provides are invaluable, he says. "It creates a good platform for Chinese companies that have an established presence in the UK to share their experiences with others that have new subsidiaries, and this greatly helps the process of Chinese firms' internationalization."

The organization provides a variety of services, ranging from helping businesses solve practical problems to assisting expatriate employees with healthcare and education issues.

The relaunch ceremony also saw the unveiling of the chamber's new logo, which features a large, central pillar on several globe shapes. The pillar symbolizes the organization's ability to stand tall, and the globes symbolize globalization of Chinese companies.

Also at the event, Liu gave a speech on the strategic direction of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) and its implications for UK-China relations. The plan is a blueprint of China's national development.

The ambassador said the focus of the plan, to be finalized in March, will include innovation, balanced growth, the green economy and inclusive development.

Innovation will be the basis for growth, meaning China will optimize its allocation of key resources to stimulate innovation-driven growth, he said. "One can expect to see science and technology leading all innovative activities. This is because China will roll out a list of major research projects that will stimulate the country's overall and long-term development."

Balanced growth means China will make sure growth will happen across different regions, and that the more developed east coast region will take the lead and help other areas grow.

A number of growth hubs will be created, he said, such as the integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The 13th Five-Year Plan is the first to put emphasis on green development and solutions in every aspect of the economy, he said, while inclusive development means allowing people to benefit from the country's development.

"As ancient Chinese political philosophy reveals, people are the foundation of a state. Therefore, the people's well-being is central to China's development," Liu said.

He says the new strategic roadmap points out many obvious areas of cooperation between China and the UK, especially in trade and investment, financial cooperation, innovation and creative industries, urban planning and the green economy.

China will see accelerated demand in these areas, with which the UK already has expertise and experience, he added.

cecily.liu@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily European Weekly 12/18/2015 page14)