AQW 7012/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 20/02/2024
Answered On Date: 16/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the work of the Northern Ireland Bureau, China.

Answer:

The NI Bureau China works to promote our region as a place where people want to live and work, to visit, to study and invest, and to build the relationships that can help us deliver the Executive’s objectives.

In the past year, the Bureau has facilitate a number of visits and events to develop mutually beneficial relationships. These have included:

St. Patrick's Day business networking event with Invest NI in Wuhan.

Visits to Dalian, Shenyang and Changchun to maintain relationships and exploratory visit to Luoyang.

Supporting two visits by officials in Autumn 2023 to meet with relevant Chinese government departments and key stakeholders.

Supporting visits from Universities and Schools including facilitating a performance by Ulster University choir at the British Embassy Beijing.

In parallel, the Bureau have continued to pro-actively maintain civic networks, facilitating online communication and visits between friendship and sister cities. This has included supporting officials with the organisation of inward visits from Chinese local government representatives and senior diplomats, and providing early insights into emerging policy and key events in China.