Manchester builds China trade links

MANCHESTER’s business and political leaders have begun a series of activities to build business and cultural relationships with China.

The city’s public and private sector bodies commissioned a report from Lord Wei, who is an advisor to the UK Government.

It contained five key recommendations: the establishment of a new Manchester-China forum, a unit to look at supply chains between large and smaller firms, a forum to identify and engage visitors and students travelling from China into the city and to create some private sector-led centres to act as “digital and physical gateways between the city-region and China.

The report also recommended teaming up with other UK city leaders to create a UK-China City Leaders’ Forum.

The reports findings were presented at a workshop at the House of Lords this week which was hosted by Lord Wei, and attended by Sir Howeard Bernstein, Manchester United, BT, Deloitte, Talk Talk and BDP.

A Manchester-China trade mission will also take place next week centred around pre-season friendlies in Shanghai next week involving both of the city’s football clubs. Manchester United play Shanghai Shenhua next Wednesday (July 25) and Manchester City play Arsenal on July 27.

Lord Wei said: “It has been a privilege working with Manchester to explore how it can build better trade and other links with cities and regions in China.

“The work done in this report shows Manchester is serious about harnessing its great brands, strong Chinese community and diaspora links, and partnerships with business, the voluntary sector, and government, to take the measures necessary to grow East.”

Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, said: “Going much further much faster on internationalisation is absolutely key to growing Manchester’s economy and bringing more prosperity into our communities.

“If we’re not selling more to the world, both goods and especially services, we will not be where we need to be. Nowhere is this more true than China.”

A copy of the Wei Report is available here.