Misplaced Pages

#807192

25-579: Mr David Sayer, Mr Duncan Clark OBE, Mr Gordon Orr Board Members: The objective of CBBC is to assist UK organisations to do business in China, to work with Chinese companies in the UK and to support UK-China partnerships in third markets. It works in close collaboration with the Department for International Trade (DIT), for whom it delivers China business development services. CBBC also cooperates closely with

50-477: A former foreign affairs adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, took over the presidency of CBBC in 1998. His first task was to accompany Prime Minister Tony Blair to China with a business delegation. The following year saw visits to the UK by then Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao, and President Jiang Zemin. CCPIT chairman Wan Jifei followed in 2001, and in October that year, the then Vice-President Hu Jintao also came to

75-498: A member of the House of Lords . The role of Minister of State for International Trade was downgraded, soon after Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022, to the more junior rank of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. At the same time, Kemi Badenoch's assumption of the role of Minister for Women and Equalities saw the appointment of two additional Parliamentary Under-Secretaries to support this additional portfolio. Badenoch retained

100-605: A name for this service: the China Launchpad. This has since become a popular service which the China–Britain Business Council still offer UK companies. The return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 led to warmer relations with the UK. Less than a month after his appointment as premier in 1998, Zhu Rongji was back in the UK, where a CBTG dinner in London's Guildhall attracted 900 guests. That year,

125-579: A new trade policy for the United Kingdom, including preparing for and then negotiating free trade agreements and market access deals with non-EU countries. The final Secretary of State for International Trade , was Kemi Badenoch . On 7 February 2023, the department was merged in a reshuffle with parts of the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to form the new Department for Business and Trade . Badenoch became Secretary of State for Business and Trade . The department

150-636: A range of other practical services for UK companies in the market. CBBC also hosts inward delegations from China, arranges events in the UK and China, and hosts business events for all senior Chinese leaders visiting the UK. CBBC has a staff based in 11 regions in the UK and 9 cities in China. The main China office is in Beijing , while the other offices are located in Shanghai , Shenzhen , Wuhan , Chengdu , Qingdao , Nanjing , Hangzhou , and Guangzhou . CBBC also provides an in-house research service that

175-505: Is specifically tailored to the needs of each company. All research is carried out by CBBC's project managers across the China offices. CBBC has conducted such research projects in a wide range of sectors, including both product and service industries. The organisation's history dates back to the early 1950s when British companies were among the first to trade with Communist China. That was the 48 Group of Companies (established in April 1954). At

200-809: The Privy Council with historic responsibility for British commerce and industry. When the UK joined the European Economic Community in 1973, the Board lost most of its powers and responsibilities, which had become a competencies of the EEC, later the European Union . Nevertheless, the Board persisted as a dormant institution whose presidency remained a subsidiary title of the Secretary of State with responsibilities for trade. In 2017

225-644: The United Kingdom from the European Union The Department for International Trade ( DIT ) was a department of the United Kingdom Government , from July 2016 to February 2023. It was responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and foreign countries, as well as for encouraging foreign investment and export trade. DIT's purpose was to develop, coordinate and deliver

250-431: The 48 Group merged with Sino-British Trade Council, at the instigation of the (then) UK Department of Trade and Industry. After the first six months, CBTG had a membership of 100 British companies, large and small, paying an annual subscription. Members were able to attend exclusive meetings with Chinese visitors, attend specialist workshops, and had priority access to special events. A big incentive of membership for many

275-572: The Board was reconstituted as an advisory body, designed to engage with the whole of the UK on the UK’s global trade and investment agenda, with a focus on promoting the UK regions as destinations to trade and do business with. The Board's president remains the Secretary of State for International Trade, who by virtue of their membership of the Privy Council, is the only member. Advisors to the Board include industry leaders, academics, junior ministers in

SECTION 10

#1732783371808

300-528: The Department for International Trade, and the Secretaries of State for Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland . The reports of the Board of Trade are an important form of policy direction for the Department for International Trade. By February 2017, the department employed about 200 trade negotiators. The department was dissolved on 7 February 2023, and its functions and personnel transferred to

325-409: The UK, CBBC's promotion of opportunities in China has never stopped. In its first year, there began a long tradition of organising a nationwide programme of seminars and conferences. Since then there has been a continuous programme of conferences and seminars with VIP speakers, briefings around the country for groups of exporters, and meetings with Chinese industrial and provincial leaders. Lord Powell,

350-657: The UK, seminars, webinars, Chinese inward missions, networking events and business clinics. CBBC has 4 pillar events each year: Department for International Trade King Charles III [REDACTED] William, Prince of Wales [REDACTED] Charles III ( King-in-Council ) [REDACTED] Starmer ministry ( L ) Keir Starmer ( L ) Angela Rayner ( L ) ( King-in-Parliament ) [REDACTED] Charles III [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Lord Reed The Lord Hodge Andrew Bailey Monetary Policy Committee Withdrawal of

375-540: The UK. Sir David Brewer , Former Lord Mayor of the City or London, became CBBC Chairman in 2007, and continued to push forward CBBC's contribution to UK-China trade and business exchange, and he has now, through his career, made well over 100 trips to China. In 2013, Lord James Sassoon was announced as the new CBBC Chairman. This was also the year that CBBC celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding. China-Britain business relations have become strong in recent years with

400-450: The latter's other relevant trade functions, as well as responsibility for UK Export Finance . In doing so, the department can trace its institutional history back to the longstanding Department of Trade and Industry (1970-2007), itself formed from a merger of the Board of Trade with the short-lived Ministry of Technology in 1970. The Board of Trade was the government body, arising from

425-410: The new Department for Business and Trade. The final roster of Ministers in the Department for International Trade were as follows: As Minister for Women and Equalities, the Secretary of State also has responsibility for developing an equalities policy that is based on individual autonomy and dignity and for promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. This role has typically been the domain of

450-541: The organisation changed its name to the China–Britain Business Council (CBBC), to reflect the growth of all round business between the UK and China encompassing investment, trade, licensing and other forms of business activity. In November 1999, the UK received the first head of state from the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin , who was greeted by a CBBC organised business lunch at the Banqueting House. In

475-553: The portfolio for Women and Equalities when the department was dissolved and merged. After Britain left the EU, the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) of the Department for International Trade was created to investigate whether new trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to UK industries caused by unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports. These remedies usually take

500-772: The private sector and trade associations, the British Embassy and Consulates in China; the British Chambers of Commerce in China, and the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the UK and the Devolved Administrations, as well as local chambers and other relevant organisations across the UK. In addition, CBBC organises missions to the Chinese market; identifies business opportunities; and provides research as well as

525-666: The same time, the British government had a semi-official trade body known as the Sino-British Trade Council which promoted British participation in trade fairs and exhibitions in China. Although the UK was the first Western country to recognize the People's Republic of China, the PRC did not fully recognize the UK until 1972 (see Sino-British relations ). The China–Britain Trade Group was established in 1991, when

SECTION 20

#1732783371808

550-607: The support of CBBC. In 2014, Chinese premier Li Keqiang visited the UK with Lord Sassoon jointly hosting a state dinner on honour of Mr Li, attended by 650 British and Chinese political and business dignitaries. In 2015, Lord Sassoon as Chairman of CBBC hosted the UK-China Business Summit during President XI Jinping's visit to the UK. The objectives of CBBC are: China–Britain Business Council holds regular business events including Chinese delegations to

575-664: Was scrutinised by the International Trade Select Committee . The department was created by former Prime Minister Theresa May , shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016, following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union . It took on the responsibilities of UK Trade & Investment , which was previously operated by both the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ; it also took on

600-596: Was the provision of services by the CBTG's two China offices. As the number of offices grew, CBTG continued to offer this service to members, and it is still a benefit of membership today. The early 1990s saw a renewal of high-level visits from China to the UK In November 1992 vice-premier Zhu Rongji was the first Chinese leader to take part in a seminar with British business in the UK, when the Stock Exchange

625-593: Was the venue for presentations from privatised industries, organised by CBTG and the Stock Exchange. The biggest events of the mid-1990s were the huge business groups taken to China by Michael Heseltine, as trade minister in 1995, then as deputy prime minister in 1996. CBTG was involved in putting together the business groups which accompanied the deputy prime minister. In 1996 a decision was made to allow member companies to appoint representatives in China and rent space in CBTG offices, which would provide services to them. Visiting CBTG Beijing that year, Michael Heseltine coined

#807192