London mayor highlights importance of trade and investment links with China

LONDON - The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on Wednesday highlighted the importance of trade and investment relations with China amid Brexit uncertainties.

While meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming and more than 150 Chinese investors at a reception at City Hall, Khan said that Chinese businesses and the thriving Chinese community "make a huge contribution" to London.

"As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, China is one of the leading sources of investment into the capital," Khan said.

"The Belt and Road initiative will unlock a whole new range of opportunities for both London and Chinese businesses and will further strengthen economic and cultural links between our cities."

China is the second biggest overseas investor into London behind the United States, and there was a 255 percent increase in Chinese foreign direct investment projects to London from 2007 to 2017, according to data from London & Partners, the Mayor's promotional agency.

At the event, London & Partners and the City of London Corporation also launched a digital hub for the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). The online platform will help to strengthen trade and investment ties between London and China by highlighting areas for collaboration and investment opportunities linked to the Belt and Road initiative.

According to recent research, Britain has identified 1.8 billion British pounds ($2.55 billion) in additional annual GDP potential associated with the BRI.

Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming said China, with its continued efforts to reform and opening up, offers opportunities for greater openness and cooperation with Britain.

"Our new measures to deepen reform and new steps to open up further to the world, coupled with the new phase of the China-UK 'Golden Era', will bring unprecedented new opportunities to the world, the UK included," he said.

Since 2011, about 200 Chinese companies have set up in London, generating 2,800 jobs. China has accounted for 12 percent of all FDI to London over this period, according to London & Partners.

The top sectors for Chinese expansion in London are Information Communications Technology (ICT), the creative industries, financial services and business services. Recent major Chinese investment projects in London have included Pudong Bank launching its new branch in London and China Mobile launching new businesses in Britain.

China is also London's largest international student market, and is projected to be the capital's fastest-growing market for tourism in the coming eight years.

By 2025, it is predicted there will be a 103 percent increase in the number of Chinese tourists into London with 330,000 annual visitors, according to London & Partners.