British Chamber South China Highlights Strong UK-China Trade Momentum at China International Consumer Products Expo 2025
The British Chamber of Commerce South China (BritCham South China) played a pivotal role in promoting UK-China trade at the Fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), celebrating the UK’s status as “Country of Honour”. Led by Chairman Mark Clayton (CFO, C2W Group), Vice Chairman Will Sung (Founder, Wilosophy), and Treasurer Nicole Zhang (Senior Partner, KPMG Hainan), BritCham SC actively supported the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), highlighting sustainable economic opportunities between the two nations and in delivering a successful UK Pavilion programme.
After the Expo’s opening ceremony, throughout the day’s programme, BritCham South China’s delegation joined British diplomatic leaders, including Douglas Alexander MP, Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security of the Department for Business and Trade, His Majesty’s Ambassador to China Dame Caroline Wilson, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Lewis Neal, and British Consul-General Guangzhou Sarah Mann, in high-level dialogues with the Vice Minister of National Bureau of Commerce Sheng Qiuping, Feng Fei, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, Gu Gang, Vice Governor of People’s Government of Hainan Province and Ding Hui, Mayor of Haikou City and a Deputy to the National People’s Congress. Discussions centred on advancing bilateral cooperation in the consumer market, green energy, education, and high-value business services – sectors critical to Hainan’s development as a global free trade port.
Throughout the day, the Chamber played a pivotal role in bridging business communities. At the UK Pavilion, spearheaded by the FCDO, BritCham South China representatives engaged with UK brands, Chinese provincial leaders, and industry stakeholders to showcase British innovation in luxury, sportswear, healthcare, and sustainable consumer goods.
The Chamber further cemented its convening power by participating in the prestigious UK Country of Honour Evening Reception, uniting over 200 senior figures from UK and Chinese enterprises under the theme “Innovating Together for a Shared Future”.
Chairman Mark Clayton stated: “As a trusted partner for both UK and Chinese businesses, BritCham South China is proud to stand alongside the FCDO in celebrating the UK’s ‘Country of Honour’ status. Today’s engagements demonstrate how sustained people-to-people and commercial exchanges – nurtured through platforms like Hainan Expo – continue to strengthen the UK-China relations.” Vice Chairman Will Sung also emphasised that the UK’s attendance as the ‘Country of Honour’ at the EXPO is yet another powerful testament to the positive development of trade relations between the United Kingdom and China.
BritCham South China will continue to actively promote UK-China trade by leveraging its participation in strategic events like the Hainan Expo, reinforcing the Chamber’s broader initiatives in sustainability, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. Through upcoming programmes and events across South China, BritCham South China remains committed to building business connectivity, providing a resilient platform for British enterprises, and strengthening a vibrant UK business community that can effectively navigate and capitalize on evolving opportunities in the Chinese market.