Sept 2023: Coordinated a discussion with The Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws KC and a group of students visiting the UK from Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, to explore ‘key issues that affect British attitudes and understanding of China’ – as part of the UKNCC Pathfinder Dialogue programme.
August 2023: Advisory Board member, Gerry Yeung, and UKNCC’s Chief Executive, Ollie Shiell, attended a reception at the Chinese Consul General in Manchester introducing the (newly appointed) Consul General, Mr Tang Rui. Meetings with the FCDO, to discuss UK China relations and UKNCC’s forward plans for 2023-24 were held, led by Advisory Board member Carma Elliot CMG OBE and Ollie Shiell.
July 2023: Co-founder of UKNCC, Andrew Cainey, visited the United States of America to meet with, among others, the China Institute, Schmidt Futures, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Atlantic Council and Asia Society to discuss China affairs. UKNCC delivered a ‘Xiconomics’ course educating senior leaders from the UK Cabinet Office, FCDO, Scottish Government, US Embassy. The UK Government China Capabilities Programme provided scholarships for HMG employees to attend the course which was also supported by Clifford Chance.
June 2023: Introductory meeting with the (newly appointed) Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh, Mr Zhang Biao, to introduce UKNCC, discuss Sino-Scottish relations and practical steps we can take to strengthen understanding and engagement on matters of disagreement and common interest. Meetings with a visiting delegation from IDCPC to continue dialogue on the state and future of UK China relations. Meeting with the Chinese Consul in Manchester to discuss the further development of the UK China Hydrogen Cooperation Dialogue and annual Forum plans with partners Manchester City and Wuhan City. Meeting with the FCDO to discuss reflections from the UKNCC visit to Beijing in April and the future of UK China relations.
May 2023: Meeting with the Scottish Office in Beijing to discuss Sino-Scottish relations and ideas to support region to region engagement. Meeting with Ambassador Zheng Zeguang to discuss reflections from the UKNCC visit to Beijing in April. Meeting with Jon Geldart, Executive Director, Institute of Directors, to discuss cooperation on the UKNCC Xiconomics executive education course (July 2023). Meeting with Tsinghua University to discuss UKNCC hosting an inbound undergraduate student delegation to learn about international media perspectives of China. Meetings with various British Universities to discuss potential for collaboration with Chinese counterparts in the context of the recently published HMG Integrated Review Refresh (March 2023).
April 2023: As China opens to foreigners, UKNCC made its first visit to Beijing in 3 years for discussions with stakeholders interested in the future of UK China relations. The team met with academics, leaders and students from the following organisations: Schwarzman College (Tsinghua University); Yenching Academy (Peking University); Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business; China Entrepreneur Club (CEC); U.S. Embassy in Beijing; Center for China and Globalisation; IDCPC; Center for International Strategy and Security China Forum (Tsinghua University).
March 2023: Dr. Jefferiss, UKNCC’s Climate Change Lead, co-chaired a roundtable with Prof. David Rooney, Director of Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energies at Queen’s University Belfast with experts from the UK and China on opportunities for hydrogen technology in the pursuit of zero carbon futures.
Jan 2023: Working meeting with the Northern Ireland China Green & Sustainable Dialogue with stakeholders and partners from across Northern Ireland and the China Chamber of Commerce in London.
Dec 2022: Meeting of the Northern Ireland China Green & Sustainable Dialogue with stakeholders and partners from across Northern Ireland and the China Chamber of Commerce in London. Part of the UKNCC Climate Change Programme, the Dialogue is Co-Chaired by UKNCC and the Consul General in Northern Ireland and is designed to explore the potential for region to region cooperation in cities transition to zero carbon.
Nov 2022: Meeting with Belfast City leaders and Consul General in Northern Ireland, to discuss the potential for region to region cooperation on climate change and cities transition to zero carbon. Meeting with Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Chinese Embassy in London to discuss strengthening mutual understanding. Round table with Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, China Forum with Senior Colonel (retired) ZHOU Bo to discuss international security.
Oct 2022: Meetings with Consul General in Northern Ireland, to discuss bilateral relations, majoring on potentIal for region to region cooperation in sustainable energy; meetings at Chinese Embassy to discuss bilateral educational exchange. UKNCC’s Chief Executive contributed to a Symposium on the 20th National Congress of the CCP hosted by Ambassador Zheng.
Sep 2022: UKNCC’s Chairman and Chief Executive both spoke at a Forum at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on the future of cooperation in science and education. UKNCC publishes its sources of funding for period Sept 2021 – 2022.
August 2022: meetings at the Chinese Embassy to discuss bilateral relations, majoring on shared concerns regarding mitigation of climate change.
July 2022: first meeting with Mme ZHANG Meifang Consul General in Northern Ireland, to introduce UKNCC and discuss relations between Northern Ireland and China. Visit to USA for meetings with Stephen Orlins, President, National Committee on US-China Relations; Yukon Huang and Michael Nelson, Senior Fellows, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Josh Lipsky, Director of GeoEconomics Center, Atlantic Council; Charles Freeman, SVP Asia, US Chamber of Commerce; to discuss geopolitical affairs. Meetings with Consulate Generals in Manchester and Edinburgh re: regional interests.
June 2022: convened a round table discussion exploring the outlook for Sino-Scottish relations with leaders representing the broad range of Scottish interests with Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and his team. UKNCC Chief Executive visited the Chinese Embassy in London to discuss environmental issues of concern to both the UK and China. UKNCC attended a Belt and Road Initiative conference hosted by Lancaster University – contributing to the Business and Economics panel.
May 2022: first meeting with Mr. MA Qiang, Consul General in Edinburgh, to introduce UKNCC and discuss Sino-Scottish relations.
April 2022: delivered the UK China Hydrogen Energy Cooperation Forum as part of the UKNCC Climate Change Programme. See Pathfinder Dialogues for full details.
March 2022: UKNCC first meeting with Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the Chinese Embassy in London. Discussion focussed on introducing UKNCC and its mission and majored on the topic of potential for UK – China cooperation on Climate Change.
Jan 2022: online meeting with Mr. ZHENG Xi Yuan, Consul General in Manchester and specialists from UK and China. Discussion focused on the potential for cooperation on tackling Climate Change using Hydrogen technologies through the lens of city twinning (Manchester and Wuhan).
Oct 2021: meetings with Mr. ZHENG Xi Yuan, Consul General in Manchester; Mr. YANG Xiaoguang, Minister and First Staff Member, Embassy of China in the UK; to introduce UKNCC and discuss climate change & sustainability summit, AFTERcop26. Oct 2021: delivered Bilateral UK-China AFTERcop26 summit with Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University; China Public Diplomacy Association; British Council; Eden Project; Manchester City; WWF-UK and WWF-China.
Aug & Sept 2021: meetings with Rupert Ainley, FCDO; Matt Burney, Director, British Council China (Minister, Culture & Education, British Embassy, Beijing); and Caroline Wilson DCMG, British Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China; to up date them on preparations for UKNCC climate change & sustainability summit, AFTERcop26.
Aug 2021: Help Desk for UK Parliamentarians and Civic Leaders introduced.
April 2021: Guest Contributor Programme and Regional Debate Series introduced.
Mar 2021: Advisory Board announced to coincide with the publication of HMG’s Integrated Review.
Nov 2020: incorporated at Companies House as an educational not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC).
May to Sept 2020: consultation process with >100 UK politicians, business people and leaders of civil society.
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