UK's Northern Powerhouse can learn from the Chinese

China's success in promoting growth in selected regions is something the British government can emulate in order to drive development of its Northern Powerhouse proposal, according to the architect of the policy, Jim O'Neill.

The vice-chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: "China's deliberate attempt to shift growth north and especially westward in the last decade, illustrated by the rise of the likes of Chengdu and Chongqing, is an experience that the United Kingdom can think about in terms of achieving the goals of the Northern Powerhouse."

The initiative was introduced to boost economic growth in the north of England, including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds, as a way of diversifying growth away from the dominance of Greater London.