The Mayor of Greater Manchester, , is showcasing the city-region
to a mass global market this week as he conducts a trade mission
to the world’s most populous country, China.
The visit (September 17-20) is tasked with establishing links
between our city-region and cities across the rapidly-developing
country, with China’s expanding economy the second-largest in the
world.
On the first day of his visit the Mayor experienced the fastest
passenger train in the world. His trip from Beijing to Tianjin
took in a new 73 mile high-speed line that has reduced travel
time between the two largest cities in Northern China from 70 to
30 minutes, showing how rail infrastructure can connect major
cities’ economies.
That is a quicker journey time than it takes a Greater Manchester
passenger to travel from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester city centre
(17 miles), or Bolton to Rochdale (11 miles).
Mayor of Greater Manchester, , said: “Experiencing train
travel in China emphasised what is possible when ambitious
technology, infrastructure investment and innovation is married
with sensible regulation.
“Imagine travelling more than 70 miles on a super-fast service in
exactly the same time it takes to catch a rattling Northern train
just eight miles from Altrincham to Manchester. It re-enforced to
me the scale of the challenge we face in Greater Manchester to
improve the railways so that they work for everyone.
“Railway passengers in the North of England deserve a service
every bit as clean, comfortable and reliable as those travelling
in Northern China.”
The Mayor’s visits to a number of Chinese cities in what is the
world’s most populous country is also targeted to aid the
development Greater Manchester’s ambitious plans for delivering
clean air, decarbonisation, and an end to single-use plastics.
The visit will lead to new partnerships and connections with key
centres of the Chinese economy, enabling the city-region to
benefit from collaborative working across industry, academia and
public policy, as part of the Mayor’s openness to welcoming
talent, investment and ideas to Greater Manchester from across
the globe.
Andy added: “The future of a global world is one of cities
working together across borders and seas and making the
difference – centralised power is rapidly becoming a thing of the
past.
“Greater Manchester has long recognised the strategic importance
of forging closer ties with China, given its general growth
trajectory, rising appetite for investment in the West and
synergies with key sectors we are trying to develop in our
city-region.
“Stronger international city-to-city ties will not only allow us
to share our experiences and best practices but more importantly
to work collaboratively across industry, academia and policy in
shaping the solutions for tomorrow’s world.”
Since the establishment of Manchester-China Forum in 2013, the
city-region has positioned itself as a leader in advancing its
relationship with China. In recent years it has attracted £5bn of
Chinese investment, established two new air routes to the country
and is developing a broad range of long-term partnerships in
areas as diverse as the manufacture of graphene to the economic
and social importance of football.
