British awards given to those who demonstrate commitment to trade, investment in China

The UK has become a hotspot for Chinese investors from various sectors, with a growing number of fields in which China and UK are well-placed to provide what the other side needs.

"British trade with China is now at a record high and the exports are booming," commented Paul Atherley, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, during The British Business Awards 2014 held on Nov 20 at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido Hotel.

Organized by the chamber and the China-Britain Business Council, the awards, held every two years, recognize organizations and individuals from a variety of disciplines who are achieving outstanding results and demonstrate commitment to trade and investment in China, together with Chinese businesses operating in the UK.

"We are at the take-off phase of a relationship which could make a big contribution to China's transformation to a knowledge economy and bring an enormous new source of vitality to the UK in return," said British Ambassador Sir Sebastian Wood, during the ceremony dinner.

"The biennial awards have gone from strength to strength, a reflection of the increasingly strong ties between China and Britain."

This is a superb showcase for both countries to demonstrate the success stories behind the flourishing trade and investment statistics, he said.

UK-China trade last year broke $50 billion (40 billion euros), a new high and a continuation of the trend that has seen UK exports to China double since 2009 to an average of over 1 billion a month. During Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the UK in June, agreements worth over 14 billion were signed between Britain and China in a wide range of fields.

The increasing bilateral trade has greatly benefited the enterprise and companies doing business in UK and China. It has provided Chinese enterprises going global with more business opportunities and scope for imagination, says Leo Yue, vice-president of Sanpower Group Corporation.

Kenneth Macpherson, chief executive of IHG Greater China, which won the British Company of the Year during this year's awards, says the recognition is a strong motivator for the first international hotel group to enter China, in 1984, and which has expanded to 216 open hotels, with 186 in the development pipeline.

"We will continue working our hardest to promote trade ties between China and Britain," he says. "The British Company of the Year award is a notable achievement for us to reach, especially in the same year that we are celebrating our 30th anniversary in the China market."

Other award winners include Standard Chartered, with the award for Corporate Social Responsibility; Haskoll, with the Best Service award, and Huawei Technologies with the Chinese Investor of the Year.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn

British Ambassador Sir Sebastian Wood (L) and Justin Channe, Interim Chief Operating Officer, IHG Greater China at the event. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 11/28/2014 page19)