Vibrant outlook seen in China-Scotland economic and trade cooperation

Trade and economic cooperation between China and Scotland has already managed significant achievements and has vast potential, government officials and business leaders said at a forum in the Scottish city of Edinburgh on Thursday.

The consensus was reached during the China-Scotland Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, which also witnessed the inauguration of China Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, or CCCUK, Scotland Branch.

Jointly organized by CCCUK and the China-Britain Business Council, or CBBC, the event drew more than 100 representatives from the political, business, and academic sectors in both China and the UK.

Founded in 2001, CCCUK is a non-profit organization aiming to promote China-UK economic and trade relations. Fang Wenjian, chairman of the CCCUK and general manager of the Bank of China London branch, pointed out that Chinese enterprises have engaged in extensive cooperation in Scotland across fields such as new energy, manufacturing, and technological innovation, yielding significant outcomes.

Fang also expressed confidence in the Scotland Branch of CCCUK, which, from his point of view, "is a symbol of the long-term commitment to Scotland by Chinese businesses".

In his keynote speech, Yu Benlin, minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, highlighted China's vast consumer market, complete industrial chain and commitment towards high-quality development.

In areas such as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, biotech, and new energy, China is "looking forward to an even stronger partnership with Scotland and the UK as a whole," Yu said.

Peter Burnett, chief executive of the CBBC, noted that China and the UK's business sectors have maintained a long-standing and solid foundation for collaboration, stretching from traditional engineering and manufacturing to modern clean energy and services.

Commercial ties between China and Scotland span nearly two centuries. In those early days, tea flowed from Southeast China's Fujian province to the UK while Scottish banks and engineering firms helped forge the early industrial landscape of modern China.

According to the CBBC , over 79% of Scotland's exports went to China in the second quarter of 2025. As one of the UK's most innovative regions, Scotland's commercial engagement with China is gathering pace,Burnett added.

Representing the Scotland Branch of CCCUK, Pan Yiyong, managing director of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC, Petroleum Europe Limited, said the new chapter will focus on supporting Chinese enterprises in Scotland and promoting cooperation in energy, technology, supply chain and other key sectors that inject vitality into economic and trade relations for both sides.

The forum featured two panels. One centered on the development and cooperation opportunities of Scotland's technology while the other focused on Scotland's energy transition and new energy advancement.

The event received special support from the Chinese Embassy in the UK, the Consulate-General of The People's Republic of China in Edinburgh, the UK government's Department for Business and Trade, and the Scottish Cities Alliance.

Wang Jingli contributed to the story.