From 8 to 10 September 2024, Mr Haijiao Ge, Chairman of Bank of China Group, visited the UK and attended the reception to mark the 95th Anniversary of Bank of China London Branch serving China-UK business, accompanied by Mr Wenjian Fang, General Manager of Bank of China London Branch. Chairman Ge had in-depth discussions with representatives from political, business, and financial sectors on topics such as promoting China-UK financial and trade cooperation.
On 9th September, Chairman Ge delivered a welcome speech at the Reception. He stated that in 1929, the Bank of China Group opened its first overseas agency in London, a key milestone in the international development of China’s modern financial industry. Over the past 95 years, Bank of China London Branch has worked diligently to build a financial bridge connecting China with the world, and has become the most globalised and the most integrated Chinese bank with the longest history in China. Bank of China will spare no effort to implement the importance consensus reached by the leaders of China and the United Kingdom, continue to leverage its unique strength to better serve the economic and trade, financial and humanistic exchanges between China and the UK. We hope to work with all sectors in China and the UK to deepen positive interactions, promote complementary strengths, and jointly promote deeper and more practical bilateral cooperation, so as to contribute to the building of a stable and mutually beneficial relationship between China and the UK.
At the event, Chairman Ge announced the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Green and Biodiversity Finance Cooperation between Bank of China and the UK Government. Both sides will work together to promote the implementation of the United Nations Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and further advance China-UK cooperation in the fields of green and sustainable development to a new level.
On 10th September, Chairman Ge went to London Branch and sub-branches for inspection. During the visit, he stressed that London Branch should adhere to the high quality of service to the country’s foreign trade and economic situation, take further comprehensive deepening of the reform as the starting point, and continuously optimise the financial products and service system, so as to continue to play an important role as a link and a window in promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and the United Kingdom. The Branch should adhere to the market orientation, enhance market competitiveness with higher standards, higher goals and higher pursuits, and better meet market expectations. In addition, the Branch should adhere to maintaining the balance of development and safety, effectively strengthen regulatory communication, guard the bottom line of risk compliance, and effectively enhance the quality and efficiency of operation and management.
During his UK visit, Chairman Ge also met with H.E. Zeguang Zheng, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, to exchange views on supporting Chinese enterprises in “Going Global”, seizing opportunities in green development, and promoting China-UK dialogue. Additionally, he held separate meetings with the CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group Mr. David Schwimmer, and Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Mr. Christopher Hayward. They had in-depth discussions on topics such as capital market connectivity, green finance, and cross-border RMB transactions.
