Chinese companies are playing an increasingly important role in the UK economy, from financial services and advanced manufacturing to electric vehicles, retail and the creative industries. Yet public discussion is often shaped by geopolitical tensions and headline figures, overlooking how these businesses operate, adapt and contribute to local communities in practice. What does the experience of Chinese companies reveal about the evolving economic relationship between China and the UK?

Drawing on findings from the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK’s 2025 Development Report, this session will examine the business performance, confidence and investment plans of Chinese companies operating in the UK. Experts will discuss the opportunities, challenges and how they are adapting to the UK market.

In this session, hosted by King’s College London in collaboration with the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, business leaders and experts will look beyond the headlines to examine the evolving presence of Chinese companies in the UK—and what their experiences tell us about the future of China–UK economic cooperation.

Speakers

Wen Liu currently serves as Secretary-General of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) and Managing Director and Head of Human Resources and Training at Bank of China London Branch. She has long been committed to promoting trade and economic ties between China and the UK, representing the Chamber at numerous bilateral trade and regional investment promotion events, including the Jiaxing Agricultural Promotion Event in London. She actively supports Chinese enterprises in expanding overseas and advances practical trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Suwei Jiang is a Partner in Strategic International Markets at PwC UK, leading services that support bilateral and multilateral trade and investment between the UK, Greater China and Southeast Asia. She also leads PwC’s China Business Network across Europe. With nearly 30 years of experience as an audit, deals and consulting partner, she has worked extensively with inbound and outbound businesses across Greater China and ASEAN, advising on market access, M&A, capital markets, project financing and broader strategic issues for clients in the UK, China and Southeast Asia.

Phillip Worral is a Non-Executive Director, Board Advisor and Investor with more than 30 years' experience in international sourcing, supply chain and manufacturing across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. He has held senior sourcing roles at Ben Sherman, Lee Cooper, Musto, John Lewis and Alfred Dunhill, and worked for Puma in Hong Kong. Several of these were private equity and venture capital-backed businesses, where he served as a board member and investor. Philip previously advised Dishang Group, a major Chinese manufacturing group, on its UK strategy. He led its entry into the UK market and built partnerships with retailers including Primark and Halfords.

David Montgomery is Co-Founder and Director of PM Life Sciences Consulting. He is a medical doctor and senior life sciences leader with 25 years’ experience spanning the pharmaceutical industry, the NHS, health charity and the wider health and research ecosystem. He has launched multiple medicines across more than twenty indications and played an influential role in shaping the UK’s reimbursement and market access landscape, including serving on the UK Cancer Drugs Fund panel and as a committee member of the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

Xin Sun (Chair) is Senior Lecturer in Chinese and East Asian Business. He received his PhD in political science from Northwestern University in 2014. Prior to joining King’s, he held academic positions at the University of Oxford and Trinity College Dublin. He obtained a BA in Chemistry and Economics at Peking University and MA in Economics at Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This is a free event, which means we overbook to allow for no-shows and avoid empty seats. While we generally do not have to turn people away, this does mean we cannot guarantee all ticket holders a place. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. Those without tickets will not be admitted.

This event is hosted as part of King’s Lau China Institute’s CHINA WEEK (19-23 October) - a series of events designed to engage a wider audience in China. Find out more at kcl.ac.uk/china-week