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A decision made 27 July 2011 regarding:

Decision Reference: MD-C-2011-0092
Decision Summary Title :	Ministerial China Visit – June 2011		Date of Decision Summary:	26 July 2011
Decision Summary Author:	International Relations		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Overview of Ministerial visit to China – June 2011		Date of Written Report:	26 July 2011
Written Report Author:	CMD		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Ministerial visit to China – June 2011: presentation of report
Decision(s): The Chief Minister approved the attached report for presentation to the States for Members’ information.
Reason(s) for Decision: To provide States Members with an overview of the recent Ministerial visit to China. To provide an insight into the substance and importance of engagement with China.
Resource Implications: There are no revenue or manpower implications arising from this decision.
Action required: Report to be forwarded to the Greffier of the States for presentation as an ‘R’.
Signature:		Position: Senator T.A. Le Sueur, Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

China: Ministerial Visit - June 2011: Presentation of Report to the States

Decision Summary

REPORT: Ministerial visit to China – June 2011

Background
I led a delegation visit to China from the 10th to the 16th June 2011, accompanied by Senator Cohen. Whilst in China the delegation met with senior officials from the Chinese government to promote the Island and develop opportunities in agriculture, tourism, education, culture and financial services.

Before departing for China, Senator Cohen and I met with His Excellency Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the Court of St James’, on the 8th June at the Chinese Embassy in London. His Excellency provided helpful advice on the forthcoming visit and we also discussed the historic ties that exist between Jersey and China.

Beijing 10th – 14th June, 2011
In Beijing on the 10th June, I met with the British Ambassador to China, His Excellency Sebastian Wood, to discuss the current state of British relations with China. The protection and promotion of human rights is a priority and there continues to be British encouragement for China to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to protect the universal human rights of all its citizens. Jersey is aligned with the UK, USA and other countries in believing that progress is best pursued through a process of constructive engagement both at political and business levels.

On the 10th June I met with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). As a result of the goodwill created with the CPAFFC, Jersey secured an invitation to the 3rd Sino-European Agricultural Seminar and Agricultural Projects Matchmaking Conference to deliver a presentation to government representatives and assembled businesses on our agricultural techniques. This will be held between the 9th and the 16th August in Changchun City and is a good opportunity for Jersey to further develop its ties with China and open up economic opportunities for the Island’s agricultural industry.

I was pleased to meet with members of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on the 13th June, accompanied by Jersey Finance, to ensure that Jersey’s role as a world leading, well regulated, transparent and co-operative international finance centre was well understood. Senator Cohen met with leading representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Education on the 13th June, securing a formal twinning of Hautlieu School with a Chinese secondary school and held discussions over the possible further development of Mandarin language training in Jersey. Senator Cohen and I also met with the China National Tourism Administration where we had the opportunity to promote Jersey as an ideal future tourism destination for Chinese holidaymakers.

In Beijing on 13th June a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Jersey Telecoms and UTstarcom, raising the profile of Jersey as being a well-regulated base for foreign business and illustrating the significant scope for Jersey to make substantial deals with the world’s top economies. We also met with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deepen the links that exist between Jersey and China. This related to the meeting with His Excellency Liu Xiaoming and the visit to Jersey made in 2009 by Madam Fu Ying, the former Chinese Ambassador to the Court of St James, and served to further strengthen relations with this key Ministry.

Senator Cohen and I remained in Beijing on 14th June to meet with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to discuss the possibility of working together in the future and sharing our agricultural expertise. Similarly, we met with the Ministry of Culture to explore bi-lateral cultural exchange to broaden the Jersey-China relationship. We also met with the State Administration of Taxation; the Chinese Government agency responsible for negotiating the Tax Information Exchange Agreement signed between Jersey and China in October 2010. It was acknowledged that Jersey is a world leading, well regulated, finance centre and it was confirmed that the TIEA Jersey signed with China has been internally ratified by the People’s Republic of China.

Shanghai 15th – 16th June, 2011
On the 15th June I attended meetings in Shanghai where the delegation met with the District Head of Pudong. Pudong is a world leading finance centre located within Shanghai and it is important that the Island develops relations with this key financial hub. Whilst in Shanghai the delegation also met with the Director General of Shanghai’s Financial Service’s Office, the architect of Shanghai’s financial services industry. This was an important meeting where we discussed how Jersey may look to develop its financial services business in China and how the Island may secure business with Shanghai.

Media engagement
As well as these meetings with Chinese officials we also took part in media engagement with significant Chinese publications in Beijing on Monday 13th June and Shanghai on Thursday 16th June to further promote the Island.

International engagement
I hope that the success achieved from the visit will generate future business opportunities in agriculture, tourism, education, culture and financial services. Jersey has signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with China, and China is also a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), thus ensuring that there is a solid foundation of compliance with relevant international standards on which to base a future commercial relationship.

There is an ongoing need for Ministers to support the development of new business in China and Hong Kong and to help ensure that the Island can continue to succeed in this increasingly important market. Developing relations with China is an important investment for the future.

Cost
In line with usual practice, all Ministerial expenses will be published at the end of the year, but in order to increase transparency I can confirm that the cost of the mission to China was approximately £22,000. This covered the cost of travel and accommodation for Senator Cohen and myself, visas, transportation, incidental expenses, and interpreters' fees.