On January 11, Bank of China hosted the “Roundtable Meeting between UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chinese Business Community” at the Group’s Head Office in Beijing. The Roundtable Meeting, organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), is one of the events of the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, Chairman of Bank of China Group Mr. Haijiao Ge attended and delivered speeches. British Ambassador to China Dame Caroline Wilson DCMG, the General Manager of Bank of China London Branch Mr. Wenjian Fang, along with other representatives also attended the meeting.
Chairman Ge noted that in 2024, the leaders of China and the UK emphasised during their meeting that both sides should stick to the positioning of strategic partnership, adhere to mutual respect, openness and cooperation, and exchanges and mutual learning, strive for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and jointly write the next chapter in the sound and stable development of China-UK relations. The resumption of the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue after nearly six years is a concrete action to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders. It will create new opportunities for the development of enterprises in both countries, including Bank of China.
Chairman Ge highlighted that as a supporter and promoter of friendly exchanges between China and the UK, Bank of China started its globalised businesses in the UK and established the first overseas institution formed by any Chinese bank in London in 1929, kick starting the Group’s growing globalised operations. In 1952, Mr. Zhaoding Ji, former Deputy General Manager of the Group, worked with British entrepreneur Mr. Jack Perry to facilitate talks between delegations from the two countries and signed a trade agreement. This laid a solid foundation for the subsequent visit of the British industrial and commercial trade delegation to China, marking the “Icebreaker Journey” in China-UK trade relations. This historical milestone exemplifies the Group’s role in leveraging its global presence to deepen China-UK economic and trade exchanges and multifaceted cooperation.
Looking ahead, Chairman Ge stated that the Bank of China will continue to serve as a bridge for economic, trade, and financial cooperation between the two countries, expanding bilateral industrial collaboration. The Group aims to support win-win cooperation in emerging fields, enhancing the London offshore RMB market, promoting financial market connectivity, and contributing certainty and new momentum to global economic growth.
