Bristol delegate attends largest ever civic delegation to China
A representative from Bristol was among those who took part in the largest ever UK Mayoral mission to China.
Delegates from various UK cities visited Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu as part of a week-long mission organised by the Department for Business and Trade.
The mission was joined by regional and city mayors and duty mayors, representing the West Midlands, East Midlands, Liverpool, Manchester, South Yorkshire and London.
Bristol and the West of England was represented by Richard Lowe, director of business initiatives at the Bristol and West of England China Bureau, who was also representing Tech West England Advocates and Hewlett Rand.
“To truly appreciate China, you have to see it with your own eyes,” says Richard Lowe.
“Our reception at each city by mayors, local government and industry leaders was so welcoming and we were amazed at the levels of innovation and technological advancement in areas like EV manufacturing and immersive and mobile technologies, the vast scale of the container shipping capabilities and the sheer speed of infrastructure development.
“The mission has created a platform for inter-regional and sub-national engagement between the UK and China and in addition, collaboration between our region and China continues to go from strength to strength.
“Guangzhou, Bristol’s sister city, has presented outstanding opportunities for bilateral trade and cultural collaboration and we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the link between our two cities next year.”
