China property firms on mission to forge links in North
A DELEGATION from the capital of China’s south west province of Sichuan – Chengdu – is on a mission to forge links with the North West businesses
Led by Yin Jian, the deputy director general of the Chengdu Municipal Commission of Commerce, the visitors to the International Festival of Business 2016 are seeking to investment opportunities in the North and to attract similar funding for their own businesses.
Speaking through an interpreter, Jian told TheBusinessDesk: “The purpose of attending IFB2016, is to further the cause of the exchange between the two countries and to encourage dual investment.”
Specifically, there are major commercial property companies in Chengdu looking to link up with similar UK organisations.
These include R & F Properties, one of China’s largest and most renown property developers, Joy City, part of the COFCO Group, which specialises in shopping and leisure centres, CapitaLand/Raffles City, based in Singapore, Minyoun Group, a group of hotels based est of Chengdu, China Overseas Property, CECEP, south of the city and China Resources Building, east of Chengdu.
Jian and his team were guests at the International Property Forum which took place at IFB 2016 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool last night.
Jian also said the delegation was looking to build relationships in the commercial, cultural and sports industries.
“We are hoping to interact with our counterparts – like the regional chambers of commerce – while we are here,” he said. “ But our visit is only for two days so our itinerary is extremely busy.”
He said the Chengdu delegation was aware of the Northern Powerhouse initiative launched by Chancellor George Osborne two years ago to rebalance the UK.
“Such a regional imbalance also exists in China,” said Jian. “So we have much in common with the Northern Powerhouse.
“Although our economy is strong, we are still a developing country with the largest population of about 1.4bn people, so we have to make more effort to make sure we continue to grow.
Jian said interest in business links with the UK has increased since the visit of the Chinese president Xi Jinping in October last year.
“I am confident our relationship with the UK can go much further,” added Jian.
