{"id":15557,"date":"2025-03-07T17:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T17:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=15557"},"modified":"2025-03-09T13:32:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T13:32:52","slug":"chinas-evolving-role-in-the-global-economy-insights-from-the-uk-china-business-forum-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/chinas-evolving-role-in-the-global-economy-insights-from-the-uk-china-business-forum-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s evolving role in the global economy: Insights from the UK-China Business Forum 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

China\u2019s evolving role in the global economy was the subject of the first panel of the UK-China Business Forum<\/a> on 5 March 2025, which brought together some of the brightest minds in business, academia, and policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hosted by Gordon Orr, Non-Executive Director of Swire Pacific, Meituan, Lenovo, Fidelity China Special Situations Investment Trust, and EQT AB, the panel featured insights from Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and General Manager of Bank of China London Branch; Becky Liu, Managing Director and Head of China Macro Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd; Trey McArver, Co-Founder of Trivium\/China; and Dr Carwyn Morris, University Lecturer of Digital China at Leiden University. The discussion explored China\u2019s economic strategies, its impact on global trade, and the opportunities for collaboration between the UK and China.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Gordon Orr opened the discussion on China\u2019s evolving role in the global economy by highlighting China\u2019s growing influence across multiple sectors, from the fast fashion of brands such as Shein and Temu, to electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. He noted that the UK and China together represent 80% of the global wind farm market, underscoring the importance of their collaboration in the green energy transition. Orr also emphasised the role of services, such as education, tourism and financial services, in strengthening bilateral ties. \u201cChina is not just expanding its services domestically but also globally, even into space,\u201d he said, referencing a recent US$5 billion contract with the UAE to support lunar exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China\u2019s investments in digital infrastructure and green technologies were also a focal point. Orr cited examples such as BYD\u2019s EV factories, Lenovo\u2019s new production facilities in Saudi Arabia, and Meituan\u2019s expansion into Saudi Arabia as its first market outside China. He also touched on the democratisation of artificial intelligence (AI), with initiatives like DeepSeek making AI more accessible and affordable. \u201cThe licensing of new drugs from companies like AstraZeneca, worth billions, and the fact that 38% of leading AI researchers in the US graduated from Chinese universities, further highlight China\u2019s growing influence in innovation and talent development,\u201d Orr said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n