Manchester-Beijing service is major catalyst for Northern economy

Andy Burnham checks in at Manchester Airport yesterday

The North of England is reaping the rewards of its ever-stronger ties with China, according to research released today (September 17).

Driven by two years of direct flights between Manchester Airport and Beijing, levels of growth in trade, tourism and knowledge exchange between the North and the Far East are outstripping national averages.

Chinese companies are increasing their investments in the North of England, furthering a trend sparked by President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Manchester nearly three years ago.

This “golden era” of relations between the North and China was revealed in an independent study launched at the British Embassy in Beijing this morning by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

“The China Dividend: Two Years In” has tracked the economic, social and cultural benefits that have been felt across the North in the two years since direct flights began.

The findings of the study, by independent consultants Steer Davis Gleave, include:

  • A 38% increase in the number of Chinese visitors to the North since 2016 – a growth rate higher than both London and the UK average of 30%
  • The average spend per visit in the North West increased by 94% to £2,167 and is now 5% higher than the national average
  • The number of Chinese students in Greater Manchester has grown 9% in two years versus national growth of 4%
  • A 114% increase in Northern students gaining Chinese internships, with more than 70% from low income backgrounds
  • The Manchester-Beijing route has grown faster than any other UK-China route that has been in operation for more than 12 months
  • Export values from Manchester Airport to China grew 41% to £1.29bn in the two years after route launch, while national values fell 30%.

Mr Burnham launched the report ahead of participating in the World Economic Forum, in Tianjin, where he was due to meet with global leaders and speak on a range of subjects, including smart cities, healthcare and green manufacturing.

He said: “Greater Manchester has an ambition to sit at the heart of a productive, culturally rich and internationally competitive Northern economy.
“To do that, it is vital the North has strong connections with high-growth markets like China, which we have been working hard to develop over the past five years.

“Central to our ambition are direct air links, and the China Dividend study demonstrates that good connectivity is not just about getting people and products from A to B, but the wider impacts that they have on so many aspects of peoples’ lives at both ends of the route.

“All parts of the North are benefiting from the economic, social and cultural connections that have forged as a result of the region’s first ever direct service to mainland China, launching two years ago.

“We’ve really seen the success of the first route to China from Manchester Airport, so we hope to see more being added in the future.”

The report was launched at an event hosted by Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for China, Richard Burn, who said: “UK-China bilateral trade links have never been stronger: in 2017 UK-China bilateral trade expanded by 15.1% to reach a record £67.5bn, whilst UK exports of goods and services to China grew by 28.5%.

“This report demonstrates the clear benefits of direct UK-China linkages for facilitating flows of trade, investment and people between our two countries.

“I’m delighted to see Manchester and the surrounding region benefit so much from this flight connection to Beijing.”

Hainan Airlines

President Xi announced the Manchester-Beijing route, with Hainan Airlines, during his state visit to the UK in October 2015, with the service starting in June 2016.

The China Dividend report has shown that, in the second full year of its operation, the positive impacts associated with the route have become more pronounced and more widespread – benefiting more people and businesses and spreading to new parts of the North.

For example, enquiries received from Chinese businesses interested in setting up UK bases in the first year have now been converted in year two, creating hundreds of jobs in key sectors like life sciences, energy and infrastructure.

There has been a major increase in the number of students from low income backgrounds who have been given the opportunities to complete internships in China, while there has been a surge in the number of world-leading academics attracted to carry out research at Northern universities over the past year.

Meanwhile, Chinese investors have committed hundreds of millions of pounds into big infrastructure schemes across the North over the past 12 months, including projects in Greater Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Lancashire.

Manchester Airport chief executive, Andrew Cowan, said: “This is important research because it demonstrates the power of direct connectivity to fast-growing economies like China.

“While people could always travel to China by transferring at other airports, we were clear in our minds that securing a non-stop service would unlock a wide range of benefits for our city and the wider North.

“SDG’s study shows that this has proven to be the case, with the route serving as a catalyst for significant increases in trade and investment, tourism and academic collaboration.

“We are committed to driving growth across the North by connecting it to the world’s most important markets and, we are confident of securing links to other high value economies in the months and years ahead.”

The China Dividend report predicts rapid growth in demand for travel to the UK, as the Chinese economy continues to expand.

It suggests Manchester – and the wider North – is well placed to capitalise on this, with a wealth of natural, cultural, sporting and economic assets that appeal to the Chinese traveller.

But it underlines the importance of the UK being seen to be “open for business,” in terms of encouraging the stimulation of further air links, maintaining a welcoming visa process and investing in technology that improves the visitor experience.

The study points to the importance of large-scale investment in Northern transport infrastructure, to ensure all parts of the North benefit fully from the existence of direct routes, while stimulating fresh air connectivity by increasing the catchment area of Manchester Airport.

The study compiles findings from both British and Chinese economic consultancies and was commissioned by the Manchester-China Forum, set up in 2013 to forge closer links between the two locations.

David Percival, managing director of Deloitte’s China International Business Development Group, and chair of the Forum, said: “The findings of this report make clear the tremendous progress made in advancing Manchester and the wider North’s relations with China.

“As the benefits highlighted in this study reveal, there is significant potential for Manchester and the North to play a leading role in progressing the next phase of bilateral ties between our nations.

“Nonetheless, in order to ensure the benefits of this golden era of relations are felt throughout the UK, it is critically important that national strategy reflects the vital role regional economies and assets like Manchester Airport play in bringing our people, businesses and institutions closer together.”

Zheng Xiyuan, Consul General, People’s Republic of China in Manchester, said: “It is an exciting time of opportunity in the golden era of China-UK relations.

“I am delighted to have recently taken up the post of the Consul General for the People’s Republic of China in Manchester.

“Over the past two years, since the establishment of the direct flight to Beijing, the North of England has continued to experience rapid growth in trade and communication with China.

“Each year there are more students, tourists, and businesses coming to Manchester to experience the unique charm, culture and opportunity that the North of England has to offer.

“With our ever-closer social, economic, and cultural links, the North of England is well placed to collaborate with China on major strategic opportunities spearheaded by the Belt and Road Initiative.

“I look forward to seeing a closer China-UK relationship bringing prosperity to the people of both nations.”

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Examples of the benefits the route has secured

Rhys Whalley, executive director of the Manchester China Forum, said: “This week puts Manchester firmly in the hearts and minds of Chinese businesses.

“This direct air route via Hainan Airlines is a key enabler for business co-operation and we’ve seen significant economic impact in the last two years since it launched.

“Equally importantly, the fact that Andy Burnham has been invited to speak at the World Economic Forum shows how Manchester’s global reputation is growing, which will be further reinforced by a programme of strategic political engagement in Beijing, Tianjin and Shenzhen.”

Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, vice-chancellor, University of Manchester, added: “China is a major market for us with nearly 5,000 Chinese students studying at the University of Manchester, overseas centres in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and partnerships with many of China’s leading academic institutions.

“The direct flight is important for both promoting Manchester and for our broader student experience, enabling us to attract top talent to our international research and development programmes.”

Tom Russell, managing partner, Alliance Investments, said: “As we work with hundreds of clients in China, additional connectivity with major Chinese cities would be hugely important for us.

“Manchester is becoming the best place to invest in property and we have seen a notable increase in interest from China since the Beijing route launch.”

John Tasker, international partnerships manager, East Asia, University of Liverpool, commented: “The University of Liverpool’s main Chinese partnership is with the Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU) joint school in Suzhou.

“XJTLU is an independent university established via a joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University, one of China’s top universities.

“Students at XJTLU are awarded dual degrees from both the University of Liverpool and XJTLU and have the option to complete all four years in China, or articulate to Liverpool for their final two years.

“XJTLU is also expanding to a new campus in Taicang, the Chinese area twinned with the Wirral. It is hoped that this may bring with it more interest from Chinese students in the wider region of Liverpool.”

He added: “There are also even commercial partnerships under way between China and the University of Liverpool. For example, the £2m Newton Fund project for hydrogen vehicle production in collaboration with Wuhan-based company and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.”

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