Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming visited Bristol to talk to city and business leaders about forging closer links with China.
At a private lunch in the city’s Watersky restaurant he also met Steve West Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of England and David Parkinson, CEO, DPS Global and representatives of Bristol China Partnership (BCP), which works to connect people from Bristol and the South West with the people of China and its sister city Guangzhou.
Ambassador Liu was greeted at the Mansion House earlier in the morning by Cllr Peter Main, Lord Mayor, Stephen Hilton, Director, Economic, Green and Digital Futures Bristol City Council and Founding members of the Bristol China Partnership.
The Lord Mayor and Dianne Francombe, CEO BCP then took the Ambassador on a tour of Bristol during which he was welcomed at the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and St Mary Redcliffe Church. The previous day he visited Bristol University. He praised the high quality of education at the universities, which are attended by around 2,000 Chinese students each year.
Following a New Year’s toast to celebrate Chinese New Year of the Snake Ambassador Liu said he had enjoyed his tour of the city and was confident business people in Bristol would respond to the rich opportunities for trade relations with China over the long term.
