An advanced manufacturing communication and cooperation meeting involving the traditional industrial zones of both China and the UK was recently held at Shenyang Yuanda Enterprises Group, according to information from China’s Ministry of Commerce on Jan 5.

Co-hosted by the British Embassy and the Shenyang government, the meeting attracted more than 100 representatives from the two sides’ businesses, scientific research institutions and chambers of commerce who gathered in Shenyang to seek out new opportunities for cooperation.

The meeting also invited representatives from the advanced manufacturing center of the University of Sheffield, China-Britain Business Council, University of Warwick and Sino-Germany (Shenyang) High-end Manufacturing Industrial Park to give keynote speeches, and share expertise and new ideas on the transformation and upgrading of old industrial zones.

In November 2016, during the Eighth China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue led by Chinese Vice-Premier Ma Kai and British Chancellor Philip Hammond, the two sides displayed their willingness to push the UK's regional development plan and China’s rejuvenation strategy for old industrial zones.

The two sides will further develop cooperation centered on high-end manufacturing, international industrial capacity, scientific research and vocational skills training.