China Task Force
Introduction
The China Task Force was created in November 2003 and since August 2007 has been chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Task Force works to deepen relations, foster mutual understanding, and further co-operation between the UK and China and its formal remit covers seven themes:
- Science and technology
- Trade and investment
- Education
- Sustainable Development and Climate Change
- Culture
- Health
- International Development
Members include business leaders, senior academics and politicians with an interest in China, and meetings are held two to three times a year. In addition, much of the work of the Task Force is carried out through sub-groups and correspondence.
The Task Force acts as a high-level advisory body for HMG, meeting periodically to advise on HMG's priorities and objectives, for example before Summits, important Ministerial meetings, overall strategy discussions and as a sounding board for bilateral dialogues.
Senior leaders of the Chinese government have made clear that the Task Force continues to enjoy a very high status in China and is seen as an effective mechanism for developing our bilateral relations.
Together with its Chinese counterpart, the Task Force continues to symbolise a shared commitment to furthering bilateral relations, and has created a favourable context for the promotion of UK business and other interests.
Recent events
The Chancellor visited China in April 2008, where he met the new chair of the UK Task Force, State Counsellor Dai Bingguo. They discussed the achievements of both Task Forces so far, including the success of the UK-China Summit and areas for future focus.
State Counsellor Tang Jiaxuan, previous chair of the UK Task Force (the Chinese counterpart body) visited the UK in February 2008. He met the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and John Prescott. They discussed a range of issues including the global economy, UK-China business links and foreign policy.
The Chancellor chaired his first meeting in September 2007 to prepare for the January 2008 UK-China Summit, which was attended by the Prime Minister and John Prescott.
The second Task Force meeting was held in February 2008 to follow up the outcomes of the UK-China Summit. The next meeting will take stock of achievements to date and determine areas for future focus.
Principal achievements
The China Task Force proposed that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the UK-China Summit in January 2008, to signal high-level political backing for collaborative activities in the area of sustainable urban development. The Prime Minister and Chancellor agreed that this would benefit the UK-China relationship and further enhance both countries sustainable cities expertise. China and the UK therefore agreed a package of deliverables for a MoU on sustainable cities [PDF 295KB, 4 pages] for the UK-China Summit, to include projects under the umbrella of the China – UK Sustainable Development Dialogue.
Under John Prescott's chairmanship, he presented a progress report on the work of the China Task Force to Premier Wen during his visit to the UK in September 2006. Key ongoing achievements arising from Task Force recommendations and highlighted in his report include:
- enhancing co-operation between Government departments on furthering UK-China relations;
- co-operation programmes across five key areas; Information and Communications Technology, Water, Financial Services, Energy and Health;
- promoting exchanges between UK and Chinese Universities, for instance through the introduction of a scholarships scheme;
- investigating proposals to simplify Chinese student visa arrangements and introducing annual UK-China Education summits;
- strengthening research and development links between the UK and China;
- highlighting to the Chinese Government problems faced by professional institutions in China;
- signing a Sustainable Development Dialogue between the UK and China;
- developing a UK-China working group on Climate Change;
- highlighting areas where co-operation in health could be strengthened to the UK and Chinese Governments
Membership
The membership of the Task Force is currently under review.
Background - Task Force history
The China Task Force was set up at the request of Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2003 and was originally headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. The Task Force was originally asked to look at four areas: Science and Technology; Trade and Investment; Education; and Sustainable Development/Environment. In 2005 its remit was expanded to include Culture and Health and Development issues, and new members were recruited to add expertise in these areas.
Further meetings of the Task Force took place in November 2004, July and October 2005, February, June and September 2006, February 2007. The Chancellor chaired his first meeting in September 2007 and the second in February 2008.
The then Prime Minister Tony Blair attended the July 2005 and Prime Minister Gordon Brown attended the September 2007 meeting. Both took the opportunity to commend the Task Force on its work so far, thanking members for their efforts and asking for their continuing support.
The growing understanding between the UK and China was underlined by the successful state visit of Premier Wen Jiabao to Britain in September 2006 and the subsequent visit of Prime Minister Gordon Brown to China in January 2008.
The visit to the UK by Premier Wen Jiabao included a meeting with the Task Force at which co-operation in the fields of education, health and sustainable development was discussed. Separately the Task Force proposal of annual UK-China summits attended by both Prime Ministers is a commitment that continues to be fulfilled, and has given a strong impetus to developing bilateral relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott presented Premier Wen with a series of Task Force recommendations in May 2004, with an update report on progress in September 2006. In 2007 the Task Force took on a new focus on the development of Sustainable Cities. A discussion paper on strengthening co-operation in this area was presented to State Councillor Tang, the then chair of the UK task force in China, in April 2007.
Links to other websites
Contact details
For further information please contact the China Task Force Secretariat:
Email: kristina.harris@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7276 2694
