Government officials and senior business executives and representatives from China and the United Kingdom expressed their strong desire to jointly promote China-UK trade and economic cooperation in 2023.

They exchanged views on the latest investment and trade policies, as well as new development opportunities, and they listened to the advice of enterprises about the business environment in Guangzhou during the UK Business Dialogue with the Guangzhou municipal government on Tuesday.

The roundtable dialogue aimed to promote bilateral dialogue and exchanges, seize new opportunities for development and boost economic and trade cooperation between Guangzhou and Britain.

Matt Moody, the British consul general in Guangzhou, said the dialogue offered an important opportunity for member companies of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) to understand the trade and economic development policies of Guangzhou, known as a millennium commercial capital.

"The event also allows companies to discuss practical issues regarding the business environment in Guangzhou directly with relevant departments of the municipal government, and I hope this kind of discussion helps British companies grow their operations in Guangzhou, contributing to economic development in both the UK and China," Moody said.

"I expect 2023 to be a year which sees a significant boost in UK-China trade relations, following the reopening of China's borders to business travelers," he said. "We are already planning for British trade delegations and senior visitors to come to China, including to Guangzhou. And I know many senior officials and business delegations from China are planning to visit the UK. This is welcome news."

Hong Qian, director of the Guangzhou municipal bureau of commerce, said the city government not only welcomes companies from the UK to invest and set up their facilities and branches in the southern metropolis, but also many Guanghou companies have shown great interest in expanding in the UK and Europe.

He said the bureau would work with the CBBC to further promote in-depth exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the months to come.

The event has been held in Guangzhou for three consecutive years.