China’s Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang visited Scotland in the first week of August, first visiting the country’s ‘energy capital’ of Aberdeen prior to the national capital, Edinburgh.
On August 6, Ambassador Zheng met with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney and had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Scotland in various fields.
Ambassador Zheng said that Scotland has a unique history and cultural tradition, strong capacity in science, technology and education, and outstanding economic advantages. Over the years, Scotland has maintained close exchanges and cooperation with China, bringing huge benefits to both peoples. China supports its provinces and cities to expand friendly exchanges with Scotland, broaden mutually beneficial cooperation, and create more highlights of cooperation, to better serve both peoples.
First Minister Swinney, who is also the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), welcomed Ambassador Zheng to Scotland. He said that Scotland attaches great importance to long-term friendly cooperation with China. China’s achievements are well recognised worldwide. China is the largest source of imports and an important export market of Scotland. The Scottish side is willing to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Chinese provinces and cities in economy, trade, education, culture, tourism, new energy, medical care and infrastructure development, and welcomes more Chinese entrepreneurs, students and tourists to Scotland.
The previous day, Ambassador Zheng had met with city leaders of Edinburgh and congratulated the city on its successful hosting of the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival, commending the fruitful results it has achieved in exchanges and cooperation with Chinese cities. He noted that there is significant potential for collaboration between Chinese cities and Edinburgh in areas such as economy, trade, education, culture, science and technology, tourism, healthcare and new energy, and expressed hope that the two sides will strengthen dialogue and communication, expand exchanges and cooperation, and bring greater benefits to the people.
Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge and others said that China’s rapid development has garnered worldwide attention. Edinburgh has long maintained close cooperation with Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Xi’an. Edinburgh hopes to continue its collaboration with China in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, and expand cooperation in new energy, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure, among other areas. The Chinese community in Edinburgh has made significant contributions to the city’s economic and social development. Edinburgh welcomes more Chinese investors, students, and tourists to the city.
On August 2, the Ambassador had met with the civic leaders of Aberdeen and said that in the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 5%, continuing to make steady progress. We are fully confident, he added, in achieving our annual economic and social development goals. China’s further deepening of comprehensive reform to advance Chinese modernisation will bring new opportunities to countries around the world.
Zheng praised the fruitful results of Aberdeen’s cooperation with China, noting the broad prospects for collaboration in areas such as energy transition, green and low-carbon development, economy, trade, education, and tourism. China welcomes closer exchanges and wider cooperation between Aberdeen and its Chinese counterparts, which will help leverage the advantages of both sides to complement each other and deliver their respective economic and social development goals.
His hosts said that Aberdeen highly values its exchanges and cooperation with China and hopes to further expand areas of collaboration and promote greater people-to-people exchanges. With Aberdeen’s rich resources in energy, education, and tourism, they look forward to welcoming more Chinese investors, tourists, and students to the city.
Ambassador Zheng also visited major Chinese companies who have invested in Scotland.
Visiting the Aberdeen headquarters of CNOOC [China National Offshore Oil Corporation] Petroleum Europe on August 3, the Ambassador was briefed by Pan Yiyong, the company’s President, who said it will proactively advance its projects in the UK, strengthen collaboration with its partners, fulfil corporate social responsibility, and aim for steady and sustainable development.
On August 4 in Edinburgh, he visited the headquarters of Red Rock Renewables. Company leaders gave a briefing on its successful wind power projects in Scotland, adding that it is exploring opportunities to participate in large-scale wind power development and to contribute to Scotland’s renewable energy growth.
Ambassador Zheng stated that growing wind power and other renewable energies is a priority for Scotland’s green and low-carbon transition. He expressed hope that Red Rock Renewables will continue to leverage its advantages, showcase the positive image of Chinese enterprises, and actively participate in local projects, and encouraged the company to create new highlights in mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute more to mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Embassy in the UK.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang meets with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney
On 6 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang met with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney in Edinburgh. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Scotland in various fields.
Ambassador Zheng said that Scotland has a unique history and cultural tradition, strong capacity in science, technology and education, and outstanding economic advantages. Over the years, Scotland has maintained close exchanges and cooperation with China, bringing huge benefits to the people of both sides. China has a full-fledged industrial system, a large market and huge growth potential. China’s new round of deepening reform across the board will further stimulate social vitality and development momentum, accelerate high-quality development, and bring new opportunities to countries around the world including the UK. China supports its provinces and cities to expand friendly exchanges with Scotland, broaden mutually beneficial cooperation, and create more highlights of cooperation, to better serve the people of both sides.
First Minister Swinney welcomed Ambassador Zheng to Scotland. He said that Scotland attaches great importance to long-term friendly cooperation with China. China’s achievements are well recognised worldwide. China is the largest source of imports and an important export market of Scotland. The Scottish side is willing to enhance mutual beneficial cooperation with Chinese provinces and cities in economy, trade, education, culture, tourism, new energy, medical care and infrastructure development, and welcomes more Chinese entrepreneurs, students and tourists to Scotland.
Chinese Consul General to Edinburgh Zhang Biao, Counsellor Kong Xiangwen from the Chinese Embassy, and Fang Wenjian, General Manager of Bank of China London Branch & Chairman of China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, Chen Xiaomeng, CEO of the Red Rock Renewables attended the meeting.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang meets with Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge
On 5 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang met with Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Cammy Day, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, and Paul Lawrence, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, at Edinburgh City Chambers. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Chinese cities and Edinburgh across fields.
Ambassador Zheng outlined China’s current political and economic situation at the meeting and pointed out that China is going all out for high-quality development and national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernisation.
The Ambassador noted that according to the plans laid out at the recently concluded third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee, over 300 important reform measures will be completed in the next five years to improve systems and mechanisms across sectors, which will further stimulate the social vitality and development momentum of the country. China’s economy is steadily recovering, with rapid growth in new technologies, new industries, and new business models. China has a large market with strong momentum and great resilience. The long-term positive trajectory of China’s economic growth will not change.
The Ambassador congratulated Edinburgh on its successful hosting of the Edinburgh International Festival and commended the fruitful results it has achieved in exchanges and cooperation with Chinese cities. He noted that there is significant potential for collaboration between Chinese cities and Edinburgh in areas such as economy, trade, education, culture, science and technology, tourism, healthcare and new energy, and expressed hope that the two sides will strengthen dialogue and communication, expand exchanges and cooperation, and bring greater benefits to the people of both sides.
The Lord Provost and others said that China’s rapid development has garnered worldwide attention. Edinburgh has long maintained close cooperation with Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Xi’an. Edinburgh hopes to continue its collaboration with China in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, and expand cooperation in new energy, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure, among other areas. The Chinese community in Edinburgh has made significant contributions to the city’s economic and social development. Edinburgh welcomes more Chinese investors, students, and tourists in the city.
Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of the Ambassador, Chinese Consul General to Edinburgh Zhang Biao, Minister Counsellor Bi Haibo and Counsellor Kong Xiangwen from the Chinese Embassy, Fang Wenjian, General Manager of Bank of China London Branch & Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and Chen Xiaomeng, CEO of the Red Rock Renewables, attended the meeting.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang meets with Depute Provost of Aberdeen Steve Delaney
On 2 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang met with Depute Provost of Aberdeen Steve Delaney, Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, and Council Co-Leader Councillor Iain Yuill at the Aberdeen Town House. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Chinese cities and the City of Aberdeen.
Ambassador Zheng briefed the Deputy Provost and the council co-leaders on China’s current political and economic situation, highlighting that the recent third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee has set out over 300 important reform measures to be completed in the coming five years. These measures are expected to further stimulate China’s social vitality and development momentum, boost high-quality development, and advance high-standard opening up.
The Ambassador said that in the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 5%, continuing to make steady progress. We are fully confident in achieving our annual economic and social development goals. China’s further deepening of reform comprehensive to advance Chinese modernisation will bring new opportunities to countries around the world, including the UK.
The Ambassador praised the fruitful results of Aberdeen’s cooperation with China, noting the broad prospects for collaboration in areas such as energy transition, green and low-carbon development, economy, trade, education, and tourism. China welcomes closer exchanges and wider cooperation between Aberdeen and its Chinese counterparts, which will help leverage the advantages of both sides to complement each other and deliver their respective economic and social development goals.
The Ambassador noted that the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK are ready to work with the Aberdeen City Council to create more platforms of exchanges and cooperation for various sectors such as businesses and educational institutions, and bring more benefit to the people of both sides.
The Depute Provost and the co-leaders said that the City of Aberdeen highly values its exchanges and cooperation with China and hopes to further expand areas of collaboration and promote greater people-to-people exchanges. With Aberdeen’s rich resources in energy, education, and tourism, they look forward to welcoming more Chinese investors, tourists, and students in the city.
Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of Ambassador Zheng, and Mrs Eileen Delaney, as well as Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh Zhang Biao, Minister Counsellor Bi Haibo, and Counsellor Kong Xiangwen from the Chinese Embassy in the UK, also attended the meeting.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang pays a field trip to CNOOC Petroleum Europe
On 3 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang paid a field trip to the headquarters of CNOOC Petroleum Europe in Aberdeen, and had discussions with the company’s project operations team and representatives of its UK partners.
Ambassador Zheng was briefed by Pan Yiyong, President of CNOOC Petroleum Europe, and others on the company’s operations in the UK, and fully recognised the good performance achieved by it.
Ambassador Zheng pointed out that the recent third plenary session of the CPC Central Committee made strategic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernisation. China’s pursuit of high-quality development and high-standard opening up will create new opportunities for Chinese enterprises’ overseas development and for China-UK energy cooperation. He hoped that the CNOOC Petroleum Europe will remain innovative and proactive, and achieve greater success while better serving China’s high-quality development. He encouraged the company to continue exploring and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with their UK counterparts, which can serve as a valuable illustration for energy collaboration between the two countries.
Pan Yiyong said that CNOOC Petroleum Europe will proactively advance its projects in the UK, strengthen collaboration with its British partners, fulfil corporate social responsibility, and aim for steady and sustainable development in the UK.
Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of the Ambassador, Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh Zhang Biao, Minister Counsellor Bi Haibo and Counsellor Kong Xiangwen from the Chinese Embassy participated in the trip.
Ambassador Zheng Zeguang pays a field trip to Red Rock Renewables
On 4 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang paid a field trip to the headquarters of Red Rock Renewables in Edinburgh, and held discussions with the company’s management team.
Cai Jidong, Deputy General Manager of SDIC Power Holdings and Chairman of Red Rock Renewables, along with Chen Xiaomeng, CEO of Red Rock Renewables, gave a briefing on the company’s successful wind power projects in Scotland, adding that it is exploring opportunities to participate in large-scale wind power development and contribute to Scotland’s renewable energy growth.
Ambassador Zheng fully recognised Red Rock Renewables’s achievements in investing in Scotland. He pointed out that, in line with the strategic plans laid out at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, over 300 important reform measures will be completed in the next five years to further modernise China’s system and capacity for governance. China will vigorously promote high-quality development, cultivate new productive forces at a faster pace, advance the green and low-carbon transition, and expand high-standard opening up. This will present new historical opportunities for Chinese enterprises to go global and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign companies, including those in the UK.
Ambassador Zheng stated that growing wind power and other renewable energies is a priority for Scotland’s green and low-carbon transition. He expressed hope that Red Rock Renewables will continue to leverage its advantages, showcase the positive image of Chinese enterprises, and actively participate in local projects, and encouraged the company to create new highlights in mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute more to mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and the UK.
Chinese Consul General to Edinburgh Zhang Biao, Minister Councellor Bi Haibo and Counsellor Kong Xiangwen from the Chinese Embassy, Fang Wenjian, General Manager of Bank of China Limited London Branch and Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and others participated in the trip.
