The People's Republic of China is a vast and vibrant nation with a geographical area roughly equivalent to that of the United States of America and a population of 1.3 billion (that's one fifth of the world's population). China is the world's second largest economy after the United States. It is the world's fastest-growing major economy, with average growth rates of 10 per cent for the past 30 years. China's rapid growth is not just restricted to economy, but covers areas such as energy production, communications and education. For instance, China now offers over 5 million university places, up from 1 million in 1998. On an international level, Chinese citizens are now travelling and studying abroad more than ever before.
The Scottish Government is committed to developing a long-term relationship with China based on shared values, partnership and trust. Since 2006 when Scotland’s first China Plan was published, Sino-Scottish relations have gone from strength-to strength. In this section you can find out more about the links between Scotland and China, including outcomes from the First Minister’s visits to China and the Scottish Government’s China Strategy.