Regional Focus in China
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 five years on the following regions in China: Beijing; Shanghai; Shandong; Guangdong and Hong Kong.
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. For example, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh will continue to be active in Yunnan province and elsewhere in South West China. 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, 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.
Map illustrating the Executive's focal regions in China.