Senior UK and China business leaders convened in Shanghai today for the UK-China Business Forum, held as part of a wider programme of events during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to China. The Forum, co-hosted by British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (BritCham Shanghai) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), brought together over 220 participants, including members of the UK business delegation and senior business leaders from the UK and China.
In his remarks to the Forum, BritCham Shanghai Chair Edward Weeks noted that the Forum comes at a time when the global business environment is complex and, in many respects, uncertain.
“In this context, sustained engagement matters more than ever. For businesses operating in China, progress is made possible through long-term commitment, local insights, and open channels of communication.”
The Forum included a high-level panel featuring Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, moderated by Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China. It explored opportunities for British business in China.
During the discussion, Peter Kyle highlighted that what makes this moment particularly significant is the strong alignment between the UK and China’s respective economic strategies, which are closely tied to both countries’ investment priorities and reflect a shared recognition of the need for cooperation in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
As part of the programme, BritCham Shanghai organised a panel discussion focused on collaboration and innovation, featuring Hemione Hudson, Chair and CEO of PwC China, Arjun Purkayastha, SVP, Greater China & North Asia, Reckitt, Yongkang Gu, VP and Chief Representative China, GM of GKN Aerospace (Shanghai), and Craig Patrick, Chief Commercial Officer at Silverstream Technologies UK.
The discussion highlighted a wide range of opportunities for UK businesses in China, particularly if they were able to harness its advanced digital economy, sophisticated consumer base, and top-tier engineering talent in pursuit of innovation-led growth.
Reflecting on the Forum and the Prime Minister’s visit, BritCham Shanghai Executive Director Stuart Dunn said:
“As our 110th anniversary year draws to a close, the UK-China Business Forum and Prime Minister’s visit created a timely opportunity to bring our diverse membership together with senior business leaders and policymakers from both the UK and China, fostering meaningful dialogue and rich connections.
“These moments matter: they strengthen relationships, highlight the significant contribution of British companies in Shanghai, and help create a positive, forward-looking focus for UK–China commercial cooperation in the city and beyond.”
The Forum was supported by AstraZeneca, Bridgepoint, HSBC, Johnson Matthey, Octopus Energy, and Reckitt.
The Prime Minister and official UK delegation departed Shanghai in the afternoon, marking the end of a four-day visit to China that began in Beijing.
BritCham Shanghai will share a full recap of the visit in the coming days.
