Scottish Government: Strengthening connections with China

Opportunities to revitalise relations and promote business, tourism and people-to-people ties will be the focus of External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson’s visit to China this week.

As well as meetings with senior Chinese government representatives, Mr Robertson is set to meet alumni of Scottish universities and speak with business leaders about energy and the green transition, as well as discussing the shared challenge of the dual climate-biodiversity crisis, and poverty alleviation. Mr Robertson will also celebrate St. Andrew’s Day during his visit.

This will be the first Scottish Government ministerial visit to the country since 2019.

Mr Robertson said:

“I look forward to visiting Beijing, Kunming and Shanghai and promoting Scotland as an open, connected and outward-looking country with a long history of intellectual, cultural and economic exchange with China.

“During my visit, which also coincides with St Andrew’s Day celebrations, I will have an opportunity to share our cultural traditions, as well as the chance to learn more about China’s culture and our connections

“I also intend to sign our Memorandum of Understanding on culture and tourism, meet key stakeholders on energy and green transition and support the renewal of the long-standing research partnership between Kunming Institute for Botany and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.”

Background

Details of the Ministerial programme:

• The visit will take place between 23-28 November across three cities in China: Beijing, Kunming and Shanghai.

• All engagements aim to promote Scotland’s interests across three key pillars underpinning the relationship: climate and biodiversity; people-to-people links (culture, tourism, education, social policy); and trade and investment.

For security reasons, the Cabinet Secretary’s full travel arrangements are not made public in advance, however details about Ministerial travel and engagements are proactively published online.

Benefits of the relationship include:

• Higher Education Links: 25% of all international students at Higher Education institutions in Scotland are from China.  In 2021-22, there were over 20,000 Chinese students at Higher Education institutions in Scotland (22,455 including mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau).
• Exports and Investment: China is Scotland’s 14th largest export market excluding oil and gas (based on 2019 figures).  Key exports are education, whisky and salmon.  In 2022, China was the 6^th largest market globally for Scotch whisky (£233m) and the 3^rd largest market for Scottish salmon (£37m).  Approximately 15 Chinese owned firms in Scotland employing 3,110 people with a turnover of about £1.25bn.
• Tourism: In 2019, China was Scotland’s fastest growing international inbound travel market with 172,000 visits to Scotland from China (valued at £142m).
• Culture and Tourism Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): The MoU between the Scottish and Chinese Governments builds on an original Culture MoU, signed in 2011 and renewed in 2015.  It now includes tourism.