Lancashire seeks to forge new links with China
LANCASHIRE businesses could benefit from a new agreement the county’s politicians have made with their counterparts in China.
Lancashire County Council chairman Chris Holtom has met with senior Chinese government officials to sign a letter of intent with Qinghai province in the country’s North West to explore possibilities for co-operation on economic development projects.
The county said the agreement will focus on improving relations between Qinghai and providers of specialised services based in Lancashire in the fields of environmental technology, professional services and higher education.
The Chinese authorities are keen to forge new trade links as they seek to rebuild Qinghai and grow its economy following a devastating earthquake six months ago.
Mr Holtom said: “Lancashire’s economy is already strong and offers expertise in key areas such as environmental technology, nuclear power, aerospace and higher education. By signing this letter of intent, we have agreed to help Qinghai tap into the expertise Lancashire can offer, which in turn, would benefit the county’s economy in the future.
“Our colleagues from Qinghai had originally scheduled a visit six months ago – but sadly, it had to be cancelled owing to the tragic earthquake in Yushu County, which falls within the province. I am pleased that we’ve now have the chance to meet and look forward to discussing ways we can develop our economies together over the next few years.”
Miss Ji Qinggalan, a diplomat from the Qinghai Overseas and Foreign Affairs Office, added: “We want to grow our economy in a way that is environmentally sustainable. Two of the most important business sectors we want to develop links with are environmental technology and higher education organisations and we know that Lancashire is strong in both of these areas.
“We want to work closely with Lancashire County Council, the University of Central Lancashire, and other organisations in Lancashire to see how they may be able to provide expertise to help us. We look forward to progressing talks over the coming months.”
