The First Visit to Chongqing Paid by the British Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific Affairs of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Strengthening the Sino-British Relations during the "Golden Age"

□ Article/Journalist Liu Dingrui Translator/Peng Xiubo

In order to further promote Sino-British relations during the”golden age”, Mark Field, the British Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific Affairs of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office kicked off his visit to Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanjing and Shanghai this July. Mark Field arrived in Chongqing, a second destination after Beijing, on March 23, which was his first visit to Chongqing. Wu Cunrong, a member of Chongqing Municipal Standing Committee and executive deputy mayor met with Mark Field and his accompany officials at the Yuzhou Hotel.

With the steady progress jointly made by Chinese and British government in recent years, China and Britain have entered into the ”golden age”. UK is an important partner of Chongqing in many fields ,such as scientific innovation as well as trade and investment. 2017 witnessed the total bilateral import and export volume between Chongqing and the United Kingdom reached 5.58 billion RMB, achieving a year-on-year increase of 2.1%.Chongqing's import volume from the UK increased by 12.4%year on year.

Mark Field delivering speech on the 35th Anniversary Reception of Chevening Scholarship. Photo/Liu Dingrui

By the end of April 2018, 87 British Companies had been established in Chongqing and the actual use of foreign capital had reached 0.54557 billion dollars.The industry involved are manufacturing, real estate and information transmission,computer services and software. Chongqing has invested 5858 trillion US dollars in 7 British companies totally, including special equipment manufacturing industry and the catering industry.

Mark Field knew about the urban development plans and future planning of Chongqing during his visit, which aimed to promote broad and in-depth exchanges and cooperation in bilateral trade and investment as well as scientific innovation.“British companies with a wide range of fields, from manufacturing to real estate, have taken root in Chongqing.We would support Chongqing’s Big Data Intelligence Strategy by encouraging more British high-tech companies to settle in Chongqing.” Mark Field said.

A reception for the 35th anniversary of Chevening Scholarship funded by the British Foreign and commonwealth Office (hereinafter referred to as the “Chevening Scholarship” )was hosted by Consulate General of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Chongqing at Chongqing Kempinski Hotel in the evening of 23 July. Previous Chevening Scholars, Newton Fund scholars, government and business representatives attended the event.

Mark Field addressed in his speech: "It is a great privilege for me to visit all countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Everywhere I go, I always spare some time with local Chevening scholars to learn from their experience and make friends with them.Their passion for Britain makes me believe that the influence of Chevening scholarship is immeasurable to all countries.”

It is said that the Chevening Scholarship is the most influential scholarship program funded by the British Foreign and commonwealth Office, which aimed at giving future leaders,influential figures and policy-makers an opportunity to pursue their further study in Britain. Having experienced the wonderful British culture, they can also enhance the Sino-British bilateral relations.

Over fifty thousand global leaders and influential people have once benefited from the Chevening Scholarship Since 1983, more than four thousand of who are Chinese. Over two hundred people come from southwestern China and Chongqing is also the home to over 50 Chevening Scholars. The Chevening Scholars have stepped into various fields, such as politics,business, media, non-governmental organizations, science and technology and academics.