The Confederation of British Industry: Britain cannot cut off trade opportunities with China

The UK cannot cut off its ties with China, "the London Evening Standard quoted the head of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on the 21st, stating that despite the so-called security and commercial risks, the UK" must never cut off "trade opportunities with China.

According to reports, Ryan Newton Smith, CEO of CBI, stated during a questioning of business leaders by the UK Parliament's Special Committee on Business and Trade regarding the UK China economic relationship that British companies believe strengthening trade with Chinese companies is an opportunity to drive economic growth.

Without a China strategy, there can be no growth strategy, "she said. China has made the greatest contribution to global economic growth, is the third largest trading partner of the UK, and the world's largest consumer market. The current government has strengthened economic engagement with China, including businesses, which will contribute to the development of the UK, "she said." If we consider the future economy, China has a huge market. Even if there are complex and difficult discussions and negotiations in certain areas, we cannot cut off opportunities with China because of this

Several British business figures have previously told Global Times reporters that there is no reason for the UK and China not to engage in mutually beneficial and win-win business cooperation, except in a few areas related to their respective national security. Despite the current complex geopolitical situation, they remain optimistic about the further development of UK China relations and the maintenance of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. Stability will greatly enhance the confidence of Chinese and British companies in carrying out cooperation, "a British business person working in the clean energy field told reporters, believing that China UK relations are moving towards a more stable and pragmatic stage of cooperation, which is of great significance to the business community.

On the 22nd, Professor Li Haidong from China Foreign Affairs College told Global Times reporters that there is a clear difference in logic between the business community and some British politicians in the current UK policy towards China: the business community emphasizes expanding economic cooperation and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results, while some politicians tend to lead economic and trade issues from a security perspective, which can easily lead to the "pan securitization" of China relations and compress the space for cooperation.

Li Haidong stated that strengthening economic ties with China would provide greater security for the UK's own economic development and security; On the contrary, if the preconception of "security threats" weakens economic and trade cooperation, it may actually bring about real insecurity factors. Excessive security thinking may harm the interests of the UK itself. The UK's policy towards China needs to move away from a single security narrative and place greater emphasis on economic ties and cooperation foundations, in order to promote stable development of China UK relations in a wider range of areas.