Western China has traditionally lagged between other parts of China in terms of its economic development and opening up. But this is changing fast, as the Central Government in Beijing puts greater emphasis on achieving a more balanced and sustainable form of development which benefits all of China’s population.

Cities like Chongqing and Chengdu are host to experimental reforms to try to achieve a new, more equitable growth path between urban and rural areas, reducing the growing urban-rural income gap and solving the challenges of rural development. Efforts are also being made to develop Chongqing and Chengdu into economic and financial hubs of western China, through preferential policies and reforms to develop an Open Inland Economy.

Other parts of the region have different strengths. Yunnan is famed for its bio-diversity; Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan for their ethnic diversity. The region includes national level academic institutions producing exciting scientific research, eg: in the modernisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine or in Materials Science.

The Bilateral Affairs team of the Consulate is responsible for reporting and engaging with local stakeholders in western China on:

• Political and economic reform policies and developments
• Dealing with high-level visits and policy agreements between the UK and south-west China
• Working with the local media to promote the UK and the work of the British Consulate-General, Chongqing
• Developing co-operation, including project work, between UK and local partners in a range of areas linked to sustainable and equitable development, economic and political reform and media freedom.
• Facilitating research partnerships between the UK and local research institutions in the areas of science and innovation.
• Promoting opportunities to study in the UK under the Chevening Scholarship and Fellowship programmes, and maintaining contact with our growing network of Chevening alumni in south-west China.

Visits
Recent UK visitors to south-west China include:

• Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair to Guiyang in August 2009
• Former British Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott to Chongqing in April 2009
• HRH the Duke of York to Chengdu in November 2008
• Former Minister for Trade, John Hutton to Chengdu in September 2008
• Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling to Chongqing in April 2008
• Foreign Secretary, David Miliband to Chongqing in February 2008

Recent south-west China visitors to the UK include:
• Chongqing Vice Mayor Xie Xiaojun (Aug 2009)
• Chongqing Mayor Wang Hongju (Aug 2008)

Current and future project work and events

• Land Reform seminar, with Chongqing Development and Reform Commission (July 2009)
• Importance of IPR Protection in Enabling Innovation in an Open Economy (Oct 2009)
• Hearing the Public Voice: training for local media and government spokespersons on better engaging with the public and reflecting public opinion in policymaking (starts Nov 2009)
• Building Forest Chongqing seminar (Nov 2009 - tbc)
• UK-Chongqing “Five Chongqings” Week (Nov 2009)