by Xinhua writers Jin Jing, Larry Neild
LONDON, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Positive engagement between Britain and China at all levels is "paramount" for both countries, a leading UK business adviser has told Xinhua.
Steven Lynch, director of business advisory group Beijing to Britain and chair of the Institute of Directors China Group, has recently returned to the UK after spending 12 years living and working in Beijing. He served there as managing director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
"I think it's absolutely paramount for good relationships to be maintained and improved, particularly regarding trade, economies and culture, between the UK and China," said Lynch in an exclusive interview.
"The UK needs to engage with China in many ways. If we're talking about the existential macro issues such as climate change, it's a fundamental area where we have to engage with China."
Recalling his arrival in Beijing 12 years ago in his early 20s, Lynch said the reality of China was very different from the perception by many Westerners.
"China was not what I originally envisioned when I went there, but I think that's the story for most people. I absolutely loved it. It was the most dynamic place on the planet I've ever been."
Lynch believes that there's "an enormous knowledge deficit" in the UK on understanding China.
"I do fundamentally believe we need to engage with China from a UK perspective so we can make better decisions on China for the UK. Getting on a plane and going out there and seeing it, seeing the opportunity, seeing the scale, I think is absolutely critical for foreign businesses."
Lynch noted some 200,000 Chinese students are currently studying at British universities, significantly more than the number of British students at Chinese universities, and he called on young British professionals and business people to be out and engage in China, to have a better understanding of Chinese culture and a better understanding of Chinese business environment.
The UK needs "capability building" at all levels, from civil servants to government to business, to really understand how the UK should engage with China, given the lack of understanding about the world's second largest economy, he said.
"I think we need a better understanding of how to deal with China, especially geopolitically, and where we sit in the world post-Brexit."
Lynch said he is pleased to see more positive engagement between the UK and China since the Labour Party led by Keir Starmer, swept into power after a landslide victory in the general election in July.
"We have seen the new government come in, and there has been already positive bilateral engagement. And I think that's absolutely critical and something that we definitely argued for, that we should encourage this top-down engagement because it sends the right signals to all parties."
"We should embrace that ... and look at the opportunities," he added. ■
