On November 27, Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, met with Sherard Cowper-Coles, Chair of the China-Britain Business Council in Beijing. Senior executives from over twenty British companies, including HSBC, BP, and GSK, attended the meeting.

Ling Ji stated that China-UK economic and trade cooperation is vibrant and has broad prospects. Both sides support economic globalization and trade liberalization and oppose protectionism. Chinese and British businesses can strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and financial services, continuously enhancing confidence in cooperation and injecting more positive energy into the development of bilateral relations. It is hoped that the China-Britain Business Council will continue to play its bridging role, promoting more British companies to invest in China and facilitating steady and long-term China-UK economic and trade cooperation.

Sherard Cowper-Coles stated that the China-Britain Business Council and the British business community are optimistic about the prospects for China-UK economic and trade cooperation and will continue to support British companies in investing in and cooperating with China. They also encourage Chinese companies to invest in the UK and are willing to provide assistance. Attendees from British companies like Swire Group expressed optimism about the Chinese market and plan to expand their investments in China.