President Xi Jinping sees the best of UK innovation at China International Import Expo
President Xi Jinping today opened the China International Import Expo (CIIE), where the UK is a Country of Honour.
President Xi Jinping with His Royal Highness The Duke of York.
Visiting the UK’s innovation-themed pavilion with His Royal Highness The Duke of York and International Trade Secretary The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, President Xi was shown revolutionary British LiFi technology which enables wireless communication of data using light. Created by Edinburgh University spinout pureLiFi and a symbol of UK innovation, the technology creates more secure, energy efficient and faster connections – with 1,000 times more bandwidth than conventional WiFi.
As part of his visit to the UK Pavilion, President Xi also watched a video made by Shanghai students describing the amazing British technology on display.
The UK pavilion features HYPERVSN’s holographic imaging technology, which today celebrated President Xi’s visit with holograms of the UK and Chinese flags. President Xi also saw the English Premier League trophy on display at the pavilion.
International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP said:
In this Golden Era of UK-China relations, I am delighted that the UK is the Country of Honour at CIIE. More than 50 British companies involved in CIIE are exhibiting world leading expertise that can bring competitive advantage to all sectors of the Chinese economy, from healthcare to sport.
2017 was a record breaking year for UK-China trade and I hope that this exhibition will provide a catalyst to strengthen this vital relationship.
UK activity at CIIE is showcasing global leaders across a number of sectors including healthcare and life sciences, financial and professional services, creative industries, FMCG and sports.
With bilateral trade in goods and services between the UK and China reaching a record £67.5 billion in 2017, CIIE provides a unique platform for Chinese businesses, investors and consumers to connect with UK companies and strengthen long-term partnerships in the golden era of UK-China relations.
A number of wraparound UK events are taking place as part of CIIE, exploring how the UK and China can work together to boost the trading relationship between the 2 countries.