UK firms look to enter China market, which greatly supports UK economic growth: trade official

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By Yin Yeping (Global Times) 13:59, April 14, 2025

Headed by Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander, the UK business delegation consists of 27 British companies spanning sectors such as food and beverages, healthcare, beauty, home and lifestyle, sports and outdoor, and fashion, showcasing the vitality and diverse strengths of British brands, according to information that the British Embassy in China shared with the Global Times on Sunday.

At the expo, the UK government will host a variety of activities and experiences, including product launches, business matchmaking and networking receptions, to explore how the UK and China can work together to further deepen their trade partnership.

The CICPE is what Neal described as a unique platform for Chinese businesses, investors, and consumers to connect with UK companies, and it is also an important opportunity for the UK to reaffirm its commitment as a key trading partner of China.

China is the world's second-largest economy and it is one of the UK's largest trading partners across all areas of the economy from financial services to manufacturing, to life sciences, healthcare and consumer goods, where demand is growing, said Neal.

China is an important market for UK businesses, with exports to China supporting nearly 500,000 jobs in the UK, according to the British Embassy. Meanwhile, China is the UK's fifth-largest trading partner, and as of the end of the third quarter of 2024, trade between the two countries reached 89 billion pounds ($116 billion), per the embassy.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)