STORY: Better trade connection to benefit UK, China: British expert
DATELINE: July 21, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:06
LOCATION: London
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of UK
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHERARD COWPER-COLES, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SHERARD COWPER-COLES, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council
4. various of views of UK and China 
 
STORYLINE:
 
Sherard Cowper-Coles, chair of the China-Britain Business Council, has said better connection between the United Kingdom and China in terms of investment and trade will benefit both sides.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHERARD COWPER-COLES, Chair of China-Britain Business Council
"Now with UK-China trade at record levels, about 110 billion pounds last year, well worth of 1,000 billion RMB, we at a new stage. There is an expression in English that all ships float on a rising tide. It's not just the Chinese junk that floats. It's the English steamship that rises too, on the tide of growing prosperity, which comes from these global connections between what is the second-largest economy in the world and still the 6th largest economy."
 
In Cowper-Coles's view, there are many business opportunities between the two countries.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SHERARD COWPER-COLES, Chair of China-Britain Business Council
"In particular sectors in China, Britain has a very important role to play. Chinese consumers seem to love British brands, whether it's a Range Rover manufactured in Solihull or scotch whiskey distilled in the highlands. We sell cosmetics to China. We sell advanced pumps, all sorts of advanced manufacturing equipment. So it's very much a two-way trade and we buy of course huge quantities from China. I think the transition to net zero, we're on a great journey together, the transition towards more sustainable economic development, but also in health, life sciences, areas of great expertise where we have much to offer China."
 
According to Britain's official data, the total trade in goods and services between Britain and China increased by 18.3 percent to 111 billion pounds in 2022 and Britain's exports to China increased by 37.7 percent to 37.6 billion pounds.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London.
(XHTV)