China: transport minister's visit to pearl river delta
Published 28 May 2014
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0.1 Detail
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Hammond MP, attended the 5th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macau on 8th May where he delivered a keynote address to an audience of over 1000 delegates. He then used the Pearl River Delta’s growing network of high speed rail to visit two more cities that day. In Guangzhou he met with the Executive Vice Mayor and witnessed the signing of a MoU between the University of Birmingham and Guangzhou Metro Corporation. In Hong Kong he met with the new CEO of Hutchison Ports.
In Macao, to an audience that included strong representation from Africa and South East Asia, Stephen Hammond pushed forward our efforts to encourage international co-operation with China, building on the UK-China-Africa Infrastructure Forum convened alongside the Summit with China in December last year. Supported by UK-China Infrastructure Forum co-Chair, Sir Michael Bear, and by Douglas Oakervee, former president of the Institution for Civil Engineers, the Minister was able to set out UK strengths in developing and delivering cost-effective infrastructure in third-markets. Bilateral meetings in the margins of the event included the Transport Minister from Tanzania, as well as the President from China Road and Bridges.
Our involvement in this event helps prepare the ground for further work to engage with Africa on major infrastructure projects, including on major infrastructure HVO projects in Africa, as well as laying the groundwork for broader collaboration with China in third markets. Indications are that our efforts are beginning to bear fruit, positioning the UK as a priority partner for Chinese SoEs internationally. The Lord Mayor’s visit to the African continent later this year marks the next major milestone in our focus on infrastructure on the African continent. We hope a visit by the Institution of Civil Engineers to Africa later this year will advance client-side engagement in-market, and make the case for more co-operation with China on African infrastructure.
A short visit to Guangzhou South Rail Station, designed by TFP Farrells and built in cooperation with Arup and Atkins, illustrated to Mr. Hammond the scale and speed of developments in Guangzhou.
Mr Hammond then met with M. Chen Rugui, the Executive Vice Mayor of Guangzhou. He introduced the UK’s integrated transport systems and UK government policies to support the development of ultra low emission vehicles, and welcomed Chinese investment into UK infrastructure projects. He also used the meeting to promote UK companies’ expertise in airport design, operation and equipment supply and to highlight the contribution they could make to Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport expansion project, which will have a total investment of CNY18.85 billion (£1.885 billion).
Mr Hammond promoted the UK’s R&D capability in transport by witnessing the signing of a MoU between University of Birmingham and Guangzhou Metro and giving a short speech.
In Hong Kong Mr Hammond met Mr Eric Ip, who is now Group MD of Hutchison Ports. Hutchison Ports are part of the UK’s biggest investor, Hutchison Whampoa Group. Mr Hammond is the first UK Minister or Official to meet Mr Ip in this new role. The meeting gave the Minister the opportunity to further develop our relationship with Li Ka Shing’s business.
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