This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Co-operation Agreement with Shandong
30/08/2006
The Executive has today signed a Co-operation Agreement with Shandong Province in China with the aim of delivering real benefits in areas including trade, science, culture, education and tourism.
Shandong, one of five priority regions for Scotland identified in the Executive's new China Strategy, is twice the size of Scotland and has a population of 92 million.
First Minister Jack McConnell today said the agreement would help build on the significant links Scotland had already developed with China.
"Since I first visited China two years ago, good progress has been made to establish business, educational and cultural links. Building on my meetings with the Governor of Shandong in 2005, the signing of this co-operation agreement today marks a significant step in further developing Sino-Scottish relations."
Tom McCabe, Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, signed the agreement in Shandong. He said:
"I am delighted to be able to sign this co-operation agreement between Scotland and Shandong. Scotland already has strong links with Shandong and this agreement will build on these.
Full text of Co-operation Agreement
"China is extremely important to Scotland - and Shandong is one of the most important provinces in China. With a population of 92 million, and one of China's strongest regional economies, there is much for Scotland to gain - but I believe Shandong can also benefit from our relationship too.
"I look forward to our two administrations working even closer together in the future. And, crucially, I look forward to this co-operation agreement delivering real benefits for Scotland and Shandong."
Shandong Province is located in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and has many mineral and marine resources, including offshore oil.
Shandong is the 2nd largest regional economy in China. Its GDP was $188bn in 2004 (Scotland's economy was worth around $150bn in 2004).
In 2003 Shandong had 85 universities (the second highest in China), and more than 117,000 graduates (the third highest number in China).
Scotland has several existing links with Shandong:
- Angus Council is twinned with Yantai, a region within Shandong
- Glasgow University has a collaboration agreement with Yantai University, and Aberdeen University has a partnership with Yantai Normal University
- Napier University has a partnership with Shandong University of Finance, covering both student and staff exchanges
- Scottish engineering company The Howden Group set up a joint venture in Weihai in Shandong province
- A Montrose based company, IMT Marine Consultants, which specialises in ship design has had strong links with Shandong since 2003, when it won a £1.4 million contract to design four offshore support vessels which are being build in Yantai