Minister Chen Xiaodong attended the reception hosted by the Association of Chinese Financial Professionals in UK (ACFPU) on 12 July. More than 200 overseas Chinese financial professionals, students studying abroad and representatives of British financial institutions and Chinese institutions in UK were present at the reception.
Minister Chen, in his address, congratulated on the founding of ACFPU and said this would help bring together resources of Chinese financial professionals, draw on expertise in financial services and offer advice for the expansion of financial services in China. It will also enhance financial cooperation between the two countries and facilitate development of Chinese financial institutions overseas.
London, said Minister Chen, is an international financial centre whose attractiveness and competitiveness have been steadily increased over the past decade. Openness, inclusiveness and innovation – these are important factors for the success of the City of London, but the most important factor lies in more than 300,000 financial and management professionals. More than one fourth of them are non-British professionals, including nearly 2,000 Chinese financial elites. This is a tremendous resource, as professionals from different countries and different education systems with different backgrounds made the City of London a dynamic and resourceful place.
Minister Chen updated the audience developments in Sino-UK cooperation in economic and financial fields, stressing that the Chinese government supports reputed Chinese enterprises to develop in Britain while British financial institutions are also keen on exploring the China market. Such cooperation has brought tangible benefit to the two countries and created opportunities to overseas Chinese in UK from various walks of life, in particular those in the City of London.
Minister Chen expressed his hope that ACFPU would abide by laws and run in a democratic way by strengthening ties and communication with various associations of ethnic Chinese community and win trust and support of their colleagues in the City of London. ACFPU should also carry out academic exchange in international finance, promote and deepen friendship and interaction between the Chinese and British people and serve as an envoy of China-UK friendship.
In conclusion, Chen said that in 27 days the Olympic Games, an event that people around the world had waited for so long, would be open in Beijing. Beijing Olympics is not only a grandiose event for China but also a time of celebration for the whole world. China has the confidence in making the games a unique and high level Olympics. He expressed the hope that everyone will continue to show interest in and offer their support for the games and give a go-go to the athletes of both countries.
ACFPU leaders briefed the audience the composition and purpose of the association. Managing Director for Market Michael Larsen of Harbert European Fund Advisors Ltd., Youth Ice-breaker Association Chairman Daniel Jacoel of Group of 48 Club and newly elected Chairman of All-Britain Students’ Association Dominic Lee Chak Lam also addressed the audience.
ACFPU is designed to set up, through lectures, seminars and online consultancy, a professional, academic and online exchange platform in financial field and offer advice with regard to development of financial service in China and cooperation between the two countries in the field. ACFPU now has more than 600 members, most of them are young Chinese financial professionals living and working in London.
