China's capital, Beijing, formerly known as Peking, is of one of four province-level municipalities. The second largest city in China, Beijing is recognised as the political, educational and cultural centre of the country. It is home to China's huge central government as well as its own municipal government and accomodates many of China's top universities. One of China's four ancient capitals, Beijing will host the Summer Olympics in 2008.
Administrative type | Municipality |
Area | 16,808 km 2 - (0.2% of China's total area) - almost a quarter of the area of Scotland |
Population (2004) | 14.9 million (26th) 1 - 3 times the size of Scotland |
GDP (2004) - per capita | US $51.8 billion (15th) - a third of Scotland's output US $4484 (2nd) - similar to Turkey |
Consumption per capita (2004) | US $1835 (2nd) |
Foreign Direct Investment (2003) | US $2.2 billion (8th) |
Exports Imports | US $13.1 billion (2.2% of China's total exports) US $29.7 billion (5.3% of China's total imports) |
Number of Universities (2004) Number of HE graduates (2004) | 77 100,000 |
Source: China Statistical Yearbook 2005 | 1 Regional rankings within China, 1st = highest, 31st = lowest . |
Scottish Links
Government Links
The Scottish Affairs Office is located within the British Embassy in Beijing.
The British Council have an office in Beijing
Commercial links
Scottish Development International's China HQ is located in Beijing.
Scottish companies/organisations with a presence in Beijing include:
- Clyde Blowers
- Edinburgh Petroleum Services
- Edinburgh University
- Global Connections
- Howden Hua Engineering Co. Ltd
- Interactive University
- KAL
- Logitech
- Low and Bonar
- Napier University
- NCT (Beijing) Financial Equipment System
- Picsel China Ltd
- RMJM
- Scottish Qualifications Authority
- Standard Life Beijing Office
- Standard Life Investments Beijing Office
- Weir Group Beijing
Educational Links
The University of Glasgow have links with Qinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing and Beijing Normal University. They also receive short term visits from students from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
The University of Edinburgh have an office in Beijing with an official representative and will soon be launching an alumni group in China. They have a post graduate exchange programme with Beihang University and research links with Qinghua University, Peking University, Chinese University of Agriculture,and Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Glasgow Caledonian University have a memorandum of agreement for advanced entry to engineering programmes with Beijing Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture.
The University of Dundee have a link with the Xiansheng Institute of Ecology and Geography, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Napier University have a China office in Beijing and have a joint research and staff-exchange programme with the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
The University of Paisley have various partnerships that allow Chinese students to complete their degrees in Scotland with Beijing Union University and Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology.
The University of Stirling have a collaboration on a joint venture leading to awards in several BA Honour degrees with the Beijing-USA College of English.
The University of Aberdeen have research focussed memoranda of understanding with the Chinese University of Petroleum in Beijing and Beijing Institution of Technology.
Robert Gordon University have a memorandum of understanding covering increased scholarships with the College of Arts & Science of Beijing Union University.
Queen Margaret University have an SQA Chinese initiative with the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange in Beijing.
Glasgow School of Art are working with the Chinese Central Academy of Fine Art to develop the first year of a GSA BA course which will be delivered to students in China.
Edinburgh College of Art have a partnership development with the Central Academy of Fine Art in Beijing. The programme involves around 40 students per year studying a year initially in Beijing before moving to Edinburgh
Heriot Watt University offer a Masters in Petroleum Engineering in partnership with the University of Petroleum in Beijing.
The University of St Andrews are in co-operation with Beijing Foreign Languages Institute.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh have a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This agreement includes a bilateral exchange programme for post-doctoral researchers.
The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) have well established links with the Beijing Conservatory.
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh have a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the CAS Institute of Botany in Beijing
The Scottish Crop Research Institute and Mylnefield Research Services Ltd have academic collaborations with the Centre for Ecoenvironmental Science in Beijing
Elmwood College in Fife have a formal partnership agreement with China Agricultural University in Beijing and Beijing Sports University.
Cultural/Sports Links
National Museums of Scotland have contact with The Palace Museum in Beijing
Elmwood College have a formal partnership agreement with Willow Golf Course in Beijing
The Executive is developing its database of Scottish links with each of China's regions. Do you know of any Sino-Scottish regional link that we have not included above or that is in need of updating? If so, please let us know by completing the regional links form.