Reader's Letter: Ministerial visit to China

michaeljones

Dear Residents,

I recently returned from China, following a ministerial visit along with the leaders of Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle councils.

China is the second largest economy in the world and will grow by the size of Germany's economy again in the next ten years.

China is a wonder of achievement, building 17,000 km of high-speed rail in the last ten years and skyscrapers that dwarf New York's.

So why did I go? Firstly, to support the Northern Powerhouse, it is essential that we rebalance the UK economy as London overheats and the North has the skills base and appetite to attract investment into our growing economies.

Cheshire is the gateway to the Northern Powerhouse and we are already doing well with record low levels of unemployment and our companies are doing well – very well – and that is an important message I took to China. I believe that Cheshire has the best economy in the North, especially with our northern science corridor and our manufacturing excellence throughout the borough.

One of the key sites that the trip marketed was the Alderley Park bio-science park, which went down very well with potential investors.

Once the decision on the HS2 northern hub is announced, hopefully at Crewe, then there will be a whole range of new sites across Cheshire and potentially Staffordshire that could attract investors from China.

China, as the major exporting economy to the world, has billions of pounds worth of foreign currency to invest as well as a market of 1.5 billion people for our companies to sell into.

Because of the trip, Cheshire East was introduced to many key investors and, for many of our companies, we have started a process they will be able to utilise to attract investment – and that should mean more jobs, more wealth across the borough.

It was an exhausting trip, three cities and six flights in six days – but it does illuminate the scale of opportunity for our employers and, potentially, to the Council.

The final message I give is that it was amazing to see how quickly major investment decisions can be made – and delivered – in China.

I do not, of course, suggest that we copy their approach, but it is nevertheless impressive and does show what people and a nation can do when they put there mind to it. I do support this kind of energy and delivery. However, a plan-led approach and thorough public consultation is the right way for us here in the UK.

So, a fascinating six days, lessons learnt and questions posed. We will need to think more about the opportunities but it was well worth a visit and hopefully the start of more jobs and wealth for the whole of Cheshire East and beyond.

Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council.

Tags:
Cllr Michael Jones
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

DELETED ACCOUNT
Monday 28th September 2015 at 5:48 pm
China has been undergoing an industrial revolution - but there are signs that their economy is now slowing down. Along with the "achievements" Councillor Jones cites, there is, of course, its poor human rights record, its high level of pollution, and appalling slum conditions in a number of towns. It does not show what "people and a nation can do when they put their mind to it" - it shows what a state can achieve when it is prepared to sacrifice many, - which is why decisions can be made quickly there. As to our "manufacturing excellence throughout the borough" - he might want to take note that one of the best performing parts of Cheshire East's economy, compared to the national average, was actually agriculture.
Julie Green
Monday 28th September 2015 at 7:11 pm
The Northern Powerhouse is why so much green belt land around will be sacrificed for development, and none will be affordable housing.... Somewhere down the line, any money from regeneration will head south....
Oliver Romain
Monday 28th September 2015 at 9:28 pm
Decisions are made quickly in China because dissent is stamped out. If you value human life, freedom and democracy less than money for the rich and we'll connected then it must be a very impressive regime.
Dave Cash
Tuesday 29th September 2015 at 12:44 am
At least they execute some of their corrupt (allegedly) administrators.
Jon Williams
Tuesday 29th September 2015 at 6:16 am
Who paid for the trip ?
Raymond Acton
Tuesday 29th September 2015 at 10:18 am
When does The Leader propose to have a 'plan-led approach' and 'thorough public consultation' here in Cheshire East?
Pete Taylor
Tuesday 29th September 2015 at 4:29 pm
Northern Powerhouse, eh? Here is an example of what is happening to that dream, thanks to the steel market being flooded with cheap Chinese imports: http://bit.ly/1WvM1hC
these are the Daily Telegraph's words, not mine.
Simon Worthington
Wednesday 30th September 2015 at 1:49 pm
Presumably Mike had a good look at the Chinese health and safety at work manuals while wondering at the skyscrapers and railways and new coal fired power stations pumping out pollution. Maybe the odd chat with the anti-imperialists about their expansion in Africa and their contempt for the locals while they thieve raw materials or even about the new "silk road" and their colonialist instincts across Asia.
Chris Wigley
Wednesday 30th September 2015 at 4:49 pm
I am not sure about this trade mission to China. We know that Mr Osborne was offering the Chinese the opportunity to build the french design Hinkley C nuclear power station and be involved in HS2. Yet in his constituency and the wider area of Cheshire East we used to have the expertise to do both these things. In 1992 I worked for a short period at Nuclear Electric at Knutsford, they had just finished the commissioning of Sizewell B and were desperate for the government to order a new power station. The short-sightness of the Major and then Blair/Brown governments meant that we have lost that technical expertise and also the manufacturing capacity for the components. We know that Hinkley will be push through and there are indications that will be a further station at Bradwell......................and so I wonder why we are castigating ourselves to buying in the design, technology and components rather than developing our own?

Likewise Crewe used to be a world leader in railways. A few years ago we had the prospect of the only UK (Canadian owned) Bombardier on the verge of closure as it failed to win an order for trains that was awarded to a German company. Can we really carry on without have an industrial strategy?
Terry Roeves
Wednesday 30th September 2015 at 6:38 pm
Had a wholly owned subsidiary in Chengdu, Szechuan Province, China.
Never gave them any up to date technology ( silicon chips) and insisted on a British General Manager. Even then it wasn't easy. Always had the feeling that locals were getting more out out of the deal than they declared.
Did Mr Osborne go there, because UK and the West wouldn't invest?
And/Or did he go because it's dawned on him that HS2 can't be delivered in time, within budget without China, ie China finance and build. USA must be worried about us. And that is not a good idea at all.
Either way, CEC will need to count their fingers. Nothing for nothing.
Mabel Taylor
Thursday 1st October 2015 at 6:31 am
Doubtless having discussed the deals agreed recently in China with the Chinese using his fluent Mandarin Michael E. Jones will be able to address the points raised by readers.
Roger Bagguley
Friday 2nd October 2015 at 3:27 pm
You can bet when it comes to sacrificing the quality of life, the gobbling up of resources, the destruction of green spaces etc. Michael will be there. Creating wealth in his beloved Cheshire East. So here you have it in one . Michael's vision for us:

"China is a wonder of achievement, building 17,000 km of high-speed rail in the last ten years and skyscrapers that dwarf New York's."

Clearly Michael is excited about an exploding population and skyscraper Cheshire East Towns, with high speed trains etc. and the sooner the better. So enjoy the fresh air that emanates from our green pastures whilst you can.

It really is time our leaders played some chess with their fantasies and started to think about the quality of life for our unborn children.
Jon Armstrong
Friday 2nd October 2015 at 4:20 pm
Michael loves Cheshire East so much that he lives in Cheshire West.
Colin Jones
Friday 2nd October 2015 at 5:26 pm
Actually, Jon, I think you'll find that Bulkeley (where he lives - see CEC website) is just in Cheshire East - from when it was in the old Crewe & Nantwich District Council area. Bunbury, which Councillor Jones represents, is about as far west in Cheshire East as you can get!
Jon Armstrong
Friday 2nd October 2015 at 7:53 pm
I stand corrected - I was going by Malpas in his postal address.