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6th – 10th September 2010

The Duke of York visits China 

The visit to Beijing included very useful meetings with Vice Premier Wang Qishan, the President of the Chinese Investment Corporation (CIC), the President of China Life Insurance Company, The President of the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), The Vice President of the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), who was responsible for the recent flotation in London, as well as supporting Oxford University in their first joint Oxford/China Business Conference, and dinners with Chinese Chevening Scholars and potential Chinese investors in the UK.

The focus in Shanghai was on the National Day at the Shanghai Expo, at which The Duke of York was the senior British representative. The Duke of York said:

“National Day is about celebrating the growing partnership between the UK and China. It’s about sharing our common links in culture, education, innovation and business. There are more than 85,000 Chinese students currently studying in the UK, contributing more than £1.3 billion to the UK economy, and the UK receives more than 270,000 Chinese tourists every year. There are more than 420 Chinese companies in the UK generating thousands of jobs. The British Government is committed to strengthening the cultural and business ties which underpin our growing partnership.”

The day involved an exciting array of events to celebrate this British Day, including a welcoming ceremony, a “cultural” performance laid on by the UK, visits to the China Pavilion, and the UK Pavilion, and a lunch hosted by the Chinese Delegation. Their delegation was led by Madame Fu Ying, a Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (with special responsibility for Europe), whose previous position had been as the Chinese Ambassador to the Court of St James’. She was the highest ranking Chinese official to take part in any of the individual National Day celebrations, and this reflected both the success of the UK Pavilion and the relationship that Madame Fu Ying has with The Duke of York, while she was Ambassador in London. This close relationship was further cemented with a private dinner in Beijing.

It is fair to say that the British Pavilion has been an outstanding success, being voted the best in Expo, attracting the most visitors (over 5.5m, as well as 100m plus hits on the web). The centre piece of the British Pavilion is the Seed Temple, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, and nick-named the “Dandelion” by the Chinese. Much work has been done to use the Pavilion to the fullest extent since the 1st May to support business, culture and the arts. As a result there have been considerable tangible benefits. For example, business enquiries have generated over two years worth of work for the business team in Shanghai. The intangible benefit is a greater understanding of the UK and, perhaps, the change in perception away from an old Imperial, Victorian industrial society, with Shakespeare and Dickens as the cultural backdrop.

The success of the “cultural” performance also reflects the UK’s different approach to Expo. There were two events, and The Duke of York attended the one hour performance in the morning by the English National Ballet, of which he is the Royal Patron. ENB performed two pieces; the first in conjunction with the Shanghai Ballet. The second was performed by British and Chinese schoolchildren; the Chinese participants had come from all over China, and had to rehearse remotely. Both events were a huge success, watched by a significant Chinese audience, who were very appreciative. The UK performance was the only one of the visiting nations’ performances which included Chinese participants; there are also Chinese guides at the UK Pavilion.

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