Last week proved an eventful one that left some across the nation feeling...a little hot under the collar.

Our national temperature record was broken again, topping 38 degrees in tech hotbed Cambridge (see what we did there). But more importantly, Britain saw a new leader appointed - a virtual unknown by the name of Boris Johnson.

Joking aside (though a sense of humour is invaluable in these prickly times), our new government promises to usher in real, and some might say divisive, change in the country.

Among the cabinet changes last week was Liz Truss replacing Liam Fox as International Trade Secretary, who will be spearheading the UK’s trade efforts around the world. Jeremy Hunt, who infamously slipped up on an official visit to China, and who recently was described as having a “cold war mentality”, was cast aside in favour of Dominic Raab as Foreign Secretary. As we write this, Raab is in Asia on his first overseas trip, looking to increase ties with 10 countries.

A global Britain

But where does emerging superpower China fit into our global Britain ambitions? These are also sensitive times in UK-China relations, from Huawei to Hong Kong. Where do we go from here?

It might be to soon to tell, and while this isn’t the place for in-depth foreign relations or trade analysis, it's clear that our new Prime Minister has spoken in very positive terms about China in the not too distant past.

In a January 2018 interview (keep in mind that much has happened since) with Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, the then Foreign Secretary described how he was “very enthusiastic” about the Belt & Road Initiative and furthermore very “pro-China”. He added that the UK was the first G7 country to join the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank led by China (whose vice-president in Beijing is also a Brit - Sir Danny Alexander).

Belt and Road Initiative

While the Belt and Road Initiative is a subject of debate - the UK diplomatically describes itself as a “natural partner” - the trillion-dollar infrastructure project connecting east and west promises exciting commercial opportunities for specialists in financial services (fintech and green finance), design, consulting and construction. These are all things that we're very good at in the UK.

So if you’re a project manager or construction consultancy, you may have the expertise required to make the new Silk Road initiative a success and share in the economic benefits. 

Meaty rewards

If you’re not in finance or construction, there are still new opportunities to pursue. For example, beef exports to China have been approved, marking the end of a 20-year ban since the BSE crisis. This could be worth £230 million for British business in the next five years.

The approval of UK pork plants is also being fast-tracked (five have been approved already) - meaning the possibility of more pork shipments before the end of the year.

Perhaps at this point we should also highlight the enormous success in China of Peppa Pig - a pork export of a different variety - demonstrating the importance and impact of our creative industries. Peppa Pig joins a long list of successful cultural exports that include Mr Bean and Downton Abbey. 

How Join in China can help

Of course, we are excited by the prospect of further collaborations between the UK and China, and by the opportunity presented to small businesses. We also recognise that it can be a bumpy ride for the uninitiated! This is why we are here to help.

Since 2012, we’ve acted as a knowledgeable, trusted partner to UK businesses wanted to make the most of the Chinese market. We’ll help you expand into China with confidence, from business or product sourcing to IP registration, culture training, digital marketing, and more.

Take the business advisory firm James Cowper Kreston (JCK), for instance, who we are assisting with Chinese social media management and business development. We provided on the ground support in China to JCK, who were attended a conference in Shenzhen, and with them launched a UK Innovation Centre, seen by the Chinese provincial government as a hub for investors.

These are early days in the new Boris Johnson era, and we will continue to do our best to keep you informed on emerging opportunities and the state of play between Britain and China. Feel free to contact us at any time, however, with comments or queries!