AQW 34612/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 04/11/2025
Answered On Date: 25/11/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any (i) economic; (ii) educational; or (iii) cultural, benefits delivered by the Northern Ireland Bureau in Beijing, since 2020.

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 five years the Northern Ireland Bureau China has delivered benefits to Northern Ireland through:

Supporting local authorities in developing their friendship and sister city relationships and to explore opportunities for co-operation, educational engagement, cultural exchange, trade and investment.

Hosting high level delegations to engage with senior Chinese officials to promote economic, education and tourism growth opportunities.

Supporting our universities and further education colleges through representing their interests with education policy makers and delivery arms of key Partners Across Government in China.

The Bureau supports NI universities and further education colleges through in person representation at partnership formal meetings, education fora, China based conferences, and alumni events.

The Bureau promotes Northern Ireland’s culture and tourism offering through a broad range of settings and activities through events, conferences and broader speaking opportunities.