From March 11 to 14, at the invitation of the SMI Global Council, Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), led a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs to London and Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. The delegation attended the 2026 Sustainable Market Initiative Magna Carta Roundtable and “Exhibiting China” Session, a high-level reception, and the CEO Dialogue between SMI China Council and SMI Global Council. In the presence of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, Ren Hongbin, on behalf of the CCPIT, received the inaugural “Sustainable Markets Initiative” Outstanding Contribution Award.
The delegation actively shared the guiding principles of China’s 2026 Two Sessions— the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), emphasizing its willingness to work with the British side to seize the valuable opportunities presented by China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the accelerated comprehensive green transition in the economy and society. British companies were also welcomed to participate in the fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE). King Charles III commended the work of the SMI China Council established by the CCPIT and encouraged the China Council to accelerate development, expand membership, and achieve more results in cooperation.
During the visit, Ren Hongbin also met separately with Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business and Employment at the Scottish Government, Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the SMI Global Council, Andrew Forrest, Chairman of Fortescue, and Shriti Vadera, Chair of Prudential plc. He also visited relevant enterprises for research.
The CCPIT, in collaboration with the China-Britain Business Council, hosted the China-UK (Scotland) Business Forum, where enterprises from both countries engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy, resulting in multiple cooperative outcomes.
Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Zhang Biao, Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh, attended relevant events.