Dalian deepens ties with local governments in UK

The fourth UK-China Regional Leader’s Summit is held in Dalian, Northeast China’s Liaoning province, Oct 16. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The fourth UK-China Regional Leader’s Summit kicked off on October 16 in Dalian, Liaoning province. 

The event, which will last for three days, was sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), British Embassy in China and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom.

Officials attending the meeting included Tan Zuojun, Party secretary of Dalian, Tan Chengxu, Dalian mayor, Song Jinwu, CPAFFC vice-chairman, Christina Scoot, minister and deputy head of missions at the British Embassy in Beijing, Eva Bolander, Glasgow mayor, and Jonathan Nunn, councilor of Northampton.

So far, the United Kingdom has brought a total of 1.1 billion US dollars investment in Dalian and 123 UK-funded firms have been established in the city. The meeting was a bid to reinforce mutual partnership. 

At the opening ceremony, seven cooperation agreements were signed between Dalian government, schools and firms and their counterparts in the United Kingdom with the involvement of Dalian University of Foreign Language, Dalian Huayuankou Economic Zone, Queen's University Belfast and The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE).

One agreement was signed between Dalian and Glasgow, in order to strengthen mutual exchanges in sports. Glasgow has built sister ties with Dalian since 1987. According to the agreement, Dalian International Tennis Center and the sports college in Glasgow will launch exchange programs for both their badminton players and coaches.

Dalian also reached an agreement with Northampton to have additional future exchanges in various fields, including advanced technology, healthcare, education, sports, culture and tourism.