Leeds City Region has undertaken a highly ambitious programme of activity to develop new partnerships with key regions in China.
China is the largest country in the world by population, with over 100 cities of more than a million people. Leeds City Region’s activity in China is focused on a small number of geographic locations in order to best utilise resources to deliver real impact and achieve success in the form of trade and inward investment activity.
By continuously connecting with key targets in a number of identified geographies, we can steadily raise the profile of the City Region’s offer, specifically in relation to trade and inward investment, but also in tourism and education. Creating greater awareness of Leeds City Region’s key strengths and assets will also attract interest from China in our schools, universities, and visitor economy offer.
Our activity to date has focussed on Hangzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong. There are strong existing links between these cities and parts of the City Region, including major investments from businesses headquartered in these Chinese cities and increasingly strong civic and business links.
Hangzhou is home to over 30 unicorn companies and some of the largest Tech businesses in world, including Alibaba. In December 2019, a Leeds City Region delegation met with the CEOs of some of China’s most exciting Tech businesses to discuss partnership opportunities.
Leeds City Region represented the UK at the China-UK Local Economic and Trade Forum in Qingdao, presenting to an audience of top Government and business representatives. The visit also included meetings at the headquarters of two of China’s largest businesses, Hisense and Haier.
Leeds City Region Leaders led a delegation of senior government, business, and university representatives to the Chinese cities of Hangzhou, Qingdao and Hong Kong in 2018 to strengthen relationships with key Chinese partners and build trade and investment links.
Leeds City Region has further enhanced its ability to trade with China through a series of agreements to stimulate trade with the major port city of Qingdao, providing support for businesses to enter the fast-growing Chinese market.
A delegation from Leeds City Region visited China to celebrate 30 years of partnership between Leeds and Hangzhou. New commitments were made for the sister cities to work together on trade and investment activities, and to build cultural and educational links.
Bradford City of Film launched its new China office during the Qingdao Film Trade and Domestic Film Promotion Festival. The Bradford Film Office in Qingdao will be a portal to promote UK co-production opportunities, and wider business opportunities in Leeds City Region.
LEP Chair, Roger Marsh OBE, and Leader of Leeds City Council, Cllr Judith Blake, are visiting our sister city Hangzhou to celebrate the successful hosting of the G20. The delegation will also meet with key government and business leaders in the international financial centre of Shanghai.
Leeds City Region takes business delegation to China as part of the UK Government’s Britain is GREAT Campaign.
Leeds City Region has secured funding from the GREAT UK Challenge Fund, part of Government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, to deliver two programmes of international activity in China and India.
For more information on how we are building relationships with China, please contact us below.