Guy Dru Drury, chief representative in China for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), visited Harbin, Heilongjiang province from Nov 22 to 23, at the invitation of the Harbin municipal government.

Song Xibin, mayor of Harbin, received the Harbin delegation and both sides conducted friendly exchanges with each other on Harbin’s investment environment, the current status of foreign companies in the region and the prospects for future cooperation.

Song said that under the new normal state of the Chinese economy, Harbin has taken measures to attract investment from foreign countries and has made significant achievements.

Song expressed his hopes on future mutually beneficial cooperation with British industrial and commercial sectors. Harbin has huge potential for cooperation in the fields of organic food and the deep processing of agricultural products with British companies, Song claimed. He went on to make clear that Harbin welcomes British companies to expand their interests there.

Guy Dru Drury said that the CBI is willing to build a platform for cooperation between the two sides. He said that the CBI will provide better information for British firms who are interested in the market and resources of northeast China.

Drury also held talks with representatives from Deloitte Consulting and a local Wanda Holiday Inn hotel. He learned about the operations of the two companies in Harbin. Representatives from the two companies made clear that foreign companies have strong development potential in China.

Drury expressed his view that there were clear advantages to doing business in Harbin and that he would promote the city to British companies.