From 30th June – 4th July, the British Chamber of Commerce in China was in London for our annual Doorknock, bringing British business leaders from across China to meet with policymakers and stakeholders shaping the UK’s approach to China.
The visit comes alongside the launch of our seventh Position Paper and our second edition of the Briefing for Britain – two key documents that set out the latest challenges and opportunities for British businesses operating in China and offer evidence-based recommendations for UK policymakers.
随着中国英国商会《在华英国企业：建议书2025》的发布，中国英国商会于6月30日至7月4日进行了为期一周的伦敦之行，这是我们自2019年以来的第三次商会代表团之行。
JUN 30
DAY 1
01 All-Party Parliamentary Group on China
We began the week with a valuable meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on China. Tony Vaughan MP, Chair of the APPG, briefed our members on the new Parliament’s outlook towards China and the role of the group in shaping future debate. It was an important opportunity for our committee to share perspectives from the ground and engage directly with MPs and parliamentary staff at a pivotal moment for UK-China relations.
JULY 1/2
DAYS 2+3
01 Chinese Ambassador H.E. Zheng Zeguang
As part of our 2025 Doorknock, the British Chamber of Commerce in China met with Chinese Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Zheng Zeguang, for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of UK–China trade and investment relations. The Chamber have now met with the Ambassador on each of our annual Doorknocks, with it being a vital part of the visits. The meeting was also attended by Yu Benlin, Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs.
As part of our 2025 Doorknock, the British Chamber of Commerce in China met with Chinese Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Zheng Zeguang, for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of UK–China trade and investment relations. The Chamber have now met with the Ambassador on each of our annual Doorknocks, with it being a vital part of the visits. The meeting was also attended by Yu Benlin, Minister for Economic and Commercial Affairs.
02 Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury
The Chamber then joined a joint meeting convened by Cathryn Law, Director at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and colleagues from HM Treasury (HMT). This marks the first time the Chamber has engaged both departments together in this format – a reflection of the growing strategic importance of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) as a platform for addressing market access challenges.
The session provided a valuable opportunity for the Chamber team to hear directly from DBT on the UK’s new trade and industrial strategies and what they mean for British companies operating in China. We welcomed the chance to discuss how these strategies intersect with recent UK–China engagements, particularly the EFD and other sector dialogues.
The discussion also covered business feedback on the EFD outcomes, as well as early conversations around the potential for a future UK–China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO). The Chamber shared reflections on how any such dialogue could be structured to deliver maximum value for British businesses and ensure member priorities are effectively represented.
03 Chamber Alumni Reception
We were also delighted to convene a group of London-based Chamber alumni, with staff, board members, and friends of the Chamber all joining in central London to share Chamber memories. Joining their number were four chairs of the Chamber, three managing directors, and other Chamber alumni from previous years and decades.
JULY 3+4
DAYS 4+5
01 Minister for Asia Catherine West
The British Chamber of Commerce in China met with Minister Catherine West MP to discuss the UK’s evolving approach to China and the role of business in informing future policy.
Minister West reflected on her recent visit to China, where she engaged with Chamber representatives in Chengdu and Guangdong – including a visit to Mark Clayton’s factory in Zhuhai – and emphasised the importance of direct dialogue with British businesses operating in-market.
The Chamber welcomed the positive shift in tone and engagement under the Labour government over the past year, which has already begun to deliver benefits for members through more consistent and constructive channels of communication.
The discussion also covered the implications of the UK’s China Audit, Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy. A key takeaway was the government’s commitment to deeper consultation with the business community on China policy – underlined by the announcement of a new dedicated hub for UK-China engagement. We look forward to working closely with the Minister and her team to ensure business perspectives continue to inform the next phase of UK-China relations.
02 Cabinet Office
BritCham held its first-ever meeting with the Cabinet Office, engaging with David McFarlane, who leads on China policy within the department.
Given its cross-government coordinating role and growing influence on China-related decision-making, the Cabinet Office has become a key stakeholder for British businesses navigating UK-China relations. The meeting was an important opportunity to share perspectives from the ground and discuss the evolving strategic framework shaping UK policy.
Discussions focused on the implications of the UK’s National Security Strategy and the China Audit – both of which will play a central role in informing the government’s long-term approach to China across departments. The Chamber also raised the role of Chinese investment in supporting the UK’s services sector and wider growth ambitions, and shared views on how to approach upcoming policy decisions in a way that balances economic opportunity with national priorities.
We look forward to building on this initial dialogue and maintaining regular engagement with the Cabinet Office as UK-China policy continues to evolve.
03 China Chamber of Commerce in the UK
To round off the 2025 Doorknock, the our team continued our annual engagement with the China Chamber of Commerce UK (CCCUK) over a Friday luncheon.
We were pleased to hear from Chairman Fang Wenjian and hold a productive discussion on the current operating environment for Chinese companies in the UK. The conversation also covered the UK’s new Industrial and Trade Strategies, and their potential implications for CCCUK members.
The meeting offered a valuable opportunity to explore areas of shared interest, including market access challenges faced by businesses on both sides, and potential future collaboration around the Chamber’s annual Sentiment Survey.
As always, it was a welcome chance for both chambers to bring together our respective members and continue building constructive dialogue between British and Chinese businesses.
The Chamber delegation – representing our members in Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou – will be spending the this week meeting members, UK and Chinese government officials, and others working on the bilateral business relationship between the two countries.
For questions on the Chamber’s policy and advocacy work, or to find out more about our Position Paper 2025, get in touch with our advocacy team at advocacy@britishchamber.cn or sampu@britchamswchina.org.