Ken Skates Visits Chongqing And Shanghai To Cement Welsh Links With China

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates is visiting Chongqing and Shanghai next week as part of work to strengthen Wales’ already thriving links with China. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary is being joined in Shanghai by a trade mission of 18 Welsh companies including Clogau Gold, i2L Research, Timberkits, and Tiny Rebel, all looking to increase their trade relationships with the world’s second largest economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of his visit Ken Skates will host St David’s Day events for government, business and cultural leaders in both Chongqing and Shanghai, and will promote Wales as an outward facing and forward looking nation, keen to cement links with its global trading partners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Economy Secretary will also meet Chinese companies and Government representatives to discuss how trade and cultural links between the countries can be strengthened and to consider how Wales can work to further increase its exports to the lucrative Chinese market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A Welsh cultural delegation is also travelling to China. It is hoped this will lead to new partnerships, new learning opportunities, and new exchanges of exhibitions and performers, to and from both countries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking about his visit to China, Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“China is a huge global force and one that Wales is keen to cement its already strong links with. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are currently 19 Chinese companies based in Wales, between them employing more than 2500 people here. And latest figures put annual Welsh exports to China at nearly £209m. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These are impressive figures but through my visit and the trade mission we will be seeking to build on this success, to grow our share of exports to China and to attract more Chinese investors to Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Wales has a huge amount to offer as a trading partner, a tourist destination and cultural partner. Following the decision to leave the EU it is more important than ever that we reach out to China and other international partners and continue to work to build a stronger and fairer Welsh economy for all.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​