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5. Regional Priorities in China
China has a population around 270 times that of Scotland and covers an area around 120 times our own. Given the magnitude of this differential and the resources available, while in some instances it will remain important to engage with China at the national level, in many respects it makes more sense to focus our activities on a small number of China's provincial-level regions, of which there are more than thirty. We believe that it is at this regional level that Scotland should primarily engage.
Following analysis of China's regions, taking into consideration both a range of economic factors and existing links with Scotland, Scottish Ministers have decided to focus activities over the next 5 years on the following regions in China (highlighted in the following map):
- Beijing
- Guangdong
- Hong Kong
- Shandong
- Shanghai
Profiles for these focal regions - and for all other regions of China's mainland - setting out existing Scottish links where known, will be published on the Executive's China websection: www.scotland.gov.uk/china.
Beijing is China's political capital, but is also important economically and financially. Shanghai is China's most important business and domestic financial centre. Guangdong is the manufacturing heartland while neighbouring Hong Kong is China's pre-eminent international financial centre. Shandong is another of the more advanced Chinese provinces with strong existing ties to Scotland. These regions cover each of China's three major economic zones: the Bohai Rim (Beijing and Shandong); the Pearl River Delta (Guangdong/Hong Kong); and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai).
In setting this regional focus we certainly do not preclude engagement with other regions as opportunities arise. In particular, where twinning and other arrangements exist outside of these regions particularly by local authorities, such as Edinburgh's link with Xi'an, Glasgow's link with Dalian, and Perth and Kinross Council's link with Haikou (see map), we would encourage them to continue. Such twinnings, at the sub-provincial level, play an important role in broadening and deepening Scotland's relations with China.
More generally, Scottish entities should and will locate in China wherever best suits their needs. Scottish Development International's business development approach, for example, whilst leveraging a regional focus, will continue to target commercial opportunities on an industry basis. However, we believe that stakeholders may find it useful to know of Scottish Ministers' regional priorities, should these have a bearing on where they choose to locate activities in China.
Regional Focus in China
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