Scotland’s First Minister Sturgeon to visit China

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Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will visit China in April to promote the growing economic, cultural and educational links with the world’s second-largest economy.

She will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong between April 9 and 13, conducting a series of high-level business and government meetings, as well as education showcases, cultural engagements and other events.

This will be the First Minister’s first visit to China since 2015, and comes on the back of strengthening international links.

“Since my last visit three years ago, the economic and cultural links between Scotland and China have gone from strength to strength, underlined by the recent strong export figures and the new direct Edinburgh-Beijing flight route announced last week," said Sturgeon.

There were 2.2 billion pounds of exports from Scotland to China in 2017 compared with 1.6 billion pounds in 2016, increasing at a faster rate than to any of Scotland’s other top five export partners, with a rise of more than 40 percent.

A young Chinese man paid 9,999 Swiss francs (10,000, US dollars) at a Swiss hotel for a glass of whisky made in 1878 by the revered Scotch maker Macallan on August 2 in St. Moritz, Switzerland./VCG Photo

Sturgeon's visit is a chance to forge even closer ties with the world's largest spirit market. “As Scotland's largest food and drink export, Scotch Whisky accounts for 4.36 billion pounds in trade and supports thousands of jobs in Scotland. China represents a huge opportunity for growth of Scotch Whisky.

"Exports to China increased by 47 percent last year as more Chinese consumers start appreciating the heritage, craft and quality of Scotch," said Karen Betts, Chief Executive at the Scotch Whisky Association.

Meanwhile, the first direct Scotland-China air route was announced last week, with Hainan Airlines set to offer a twice-weekly service between Edinburgh and Beijing from June this year.

“This visit is a great example of how business and government can mobilise our respective strengths to do what's best for the Scottish economy and forge new international business alliances," said Liz Cameron, Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, "our highest priority is to make sure that Scotland remains open for business to the rest of the world."