Lords Select Committee to hear from Lord O’Neill of Gatley and Lord Sassoon on the UK-China trade and investment cooperation
Friday 7 May 2021
On Wednesday 12 May 2021, as part of its ongoing inquiry into the UK’s trade and security relationship with China, the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will hear from two former Commercial Secretaries to Her Majesty’s Treasury.
They will discuss issues including the “golden age” of closer economic ties with China, the obstacles to trading with China, and the sectors of interest to Chinese investors in the UK.
The sessions will take place virtually from 10am and will be available to watch live or on demand at Parliament TV.
Giving evidence will be:
10am
- Lord O’Neill of Gatley, former Commercial Secretary to Her Majesty’s Treasury (2015-16)
11am
- Lord Sassoon, former Commercial Secretary to Her Majesty’s Treasury (2010- 13), Chair of the China-Britain Business Council
Questions will include:
The "golden age"
- What is the legacy of the “golden era” between the UK and China?
- The UK’s membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was seen as a key achievement of the “golden era”. What level of influence has the UK had in the AIIB to date? How important is the AIIB both for the UK and for China?
The UK-China relationship today
- How important is China to the UK’s economy today, and to prospects for growth?
- What are the biggest obstacles for British companies interested in trade and investment in China?
- What is the appetite of UK firms to export more to China?
Future cooperation
- What should be the cornerstones of a China strategy? How should the UK balance concerns around human rights and labour protections with ambitions to increase economic co-operation with Beijing?
