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HRH The Princess Royal visits China

Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal will this week visit China with stops in Beijing, Wuhan and Changsha.

HRH The Princess Royal visits China

HRH The Princess Royal visits China

The visit will showcase the UK’s strengths and cooperation with China in fields including sport, education and research.

Princess Anne will meet Vice Premier Liu Yandong and leaders in Beijing, Hubei and Hunan.

Drawing on her work as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and her experience representing Britain at Olympic and other international equestrian events, The Princess Royal will meet Chinese IOC representatives to discuss collaboration on upcoming events including the Winter Olympics 2022. She will also meet some of China’s top figure skaters along with leading Chinese track and field athletes as they apply for visas in preparation for next month’s IAAF World Championships in London.

Princess Anne’s long-standing work with Save the Children, one of the UK’s largest charitable organisations, will see her visit an education programme and meet the children, parents and teachers involved. She will also visit Butterfly House Children’s Hospice in Changsha and join a children’s palliative care conference, further deepening her understanding of the needs of children around the world.

Other highlights during her visit include witnessing agreements between UK and Chinese organisations on equestrian training, university links, and research on issues including the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise and Milu Deer. In Wuhan, the Princess Royal will meet Chinese and British academics and students who exemplify UK-China education links.

In Changsha she will attend the unveiling of the Meixi Lake Art Centre, designed by UK architect Zaha Hadid – a great example of UK-China collaboration in the creative industries.

The Princess Royal will attend Queen’s Birthday Party events in Beijing and Changsha, including launching “UK week in Hunan” and the UK’s “Spirit of Youth” campaign which will highlight British sport, health, education, tourism, science and innovation, culture and creative sectors.

The British Ambassador to China, Dame Barbara Woodward said:

I am delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to China for a visit which underscores the strength of the bilateral relationship and the fact UK-China links stretch across a broad range of sectors. The benefits and opportunities resulting from cooperation in education, sport, conservation and scientific research are significant for both our countries as we further develop our global partnership.

The Princess Royal’s visit comes just over two years after the Duke of Cambridge’s visit to China and almost 32 years since Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh travelled to the country.

Published 4 July 2017
Last updated 4 July 2017 + show all updates
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