British professor living in Ningbo optimistic about China-UK ties

Professor Martin Lockett, dean of Nottingham University Business School China, gave his thoughts on the development of China-UK ties during British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to China.

In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Lockett recalled his memories of China's development over the past few decades, analyzed the strengths of the two countries, and shared his insights on the potential of bilateral cooperation between China and the UK.

Having studied China's economy for many years, Lockett said China today is completely different from when he first came to the country in 1975 and that it's still changing at a rapid rate.

The University of Nottingham Ningbo China is a joint venture between China and the UK. It is the first Sino-foreign university in China and is specifically intended to promotion internationalization. "I bring my own expertise here and I'm really happy to work here, building UK-China relations," Lockett said.

China has been a leader in e-commerce, according to the British professor of economics. "Perhaps ten years ago, people said e-commerce wouldn't walk into China as there was no logistics structure," Lockett explained, "What we see today is the huge development in smart phones and communication."

The UK is particularly strong in certain areas, including high technology, creative industries, and services like banking and consultancy, areas where Lockett thought there would be a lot of cooperation. "We've become more interdependent and perhaps there will be more competition and more cooperation," he told CCTV.

Regarding May's visit to China, the professor is mainly concerned with talks on trade, investment and education. "There is great potential and I trust this visit will extend the cooperation and deepen it," Lockett said.

Lockett is interviewed by CCTV during British Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to China [Photo/cctv.com]