• Deputy Mayor Mike Wharton on UK trade mission to city region’s third largest goods export destination 

• Promoting Liverpool City Region investment opportunities in three major Chinese cities 

• Deputy Mayor: ‘This is a vital opportunity to showcase Liverpool City Region as an exceptional place to invest and do business.’ 

Liverpool City Region’s £11bn of investment opportunities are to be showcased on a government-led trade mission to China, which starts today [Monday 17 March]. 

Deputy Mayor Cllr Mike Wharton is joining other UK regional leaders on the week-long visit to three major Chinese cities – Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu. 

Organised by the Department for Business and Trade, the delegation will meet some of China’s biggest companies as they target new opportunities for UK regions and meet Chinese regional politicians to make the case for increased trade and investment from China. 

China is already Liverpool City Region’s third largest goods export destination.   

Cllr Mike Wharton, Deputy Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 

“As a great trading region with the oldest Chinese community in Europe, our links with China are both deep and enduring.  China is our third largest export destination for goods and, through our twinning with Shanghai, and extensive commercial and academic connections, including the Liverpool China Partnership, we are committed to strengthening that historic relationship.

“With £11bn of investment-ready projects, this mission is a vital opportunity for us to showcase the Liverpool City Region as an exceptional place to invest and do business, as we work to boost our local economy for the benefit of our residents.”

Deputy Mayor Wharton will be working to further deepen relationships with China and will be highlighting the city region’s £11bn pipeline of investment-ready projects, spanning life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital, AI, and clean energy.  

The mission is part of the Liverpool City Region’s drive to increase foreign direct investment by 25% by the end of the decade, to create more high-quality jobs, better training opportunities, and stronger businesses.  

Liverpool is home to Europe’s oldest Chinese community, which has been an important part of life in the city since the first Chinese immigrants arrived at its port in 1834. 

The city has been twinned with Shanghai since 1999 and over the years, the Liverpool – Shanghai sister city relationship has facilitated partnerships across multiple sectors including ports, tourism, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, film, education, creative and digital, bringing tangible benefits for both cities.  

Liverpool City Region has also formed strategic partnerships with Chinese cities including Kunming, Tianjin, Qingdao and Xian in specific areas. 

The UK delegation includes representatives from the Liverpool City Region, West and East Midlands, London and Salford.

It will visit: 

• Shenzhen, a city of 18 million people, which is a global hub for advanced manufacturing with an economy worth $516.8bn 

• Chengdu, a city of 20 million, which is a centre for high-tech enterprises, machinery, and medicine   

• Chongqing, in South West China, which is a major electric vehicle manufacturing hub and has a city area the size of Austria.