Bristol China Partnership - New Pages

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Chairman’s Report 2002

6 March 2003 at 6:30pm

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Dear President, The Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Bill L Martin, Officers, Executive Members, Members, and Friends.

Since the last annual meeting, I am pleased to report the last fourteen months of the delegation’s visit to our Sister City and developments.

SUMMARY OF THE VISITS:

Guangzhou Vice Mayor Mr Su Zequn delegation’s visit, 3-4 ^th March 2002

The partnership were pleased to host a visit by the Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government to the City of Bristol over two days during March. The visit involved meeting with the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor Councillor Bill Martin, Paul Barnett Head of the Cultural Services, Richard Pyle are the representatives from the City Council, Bristol City Football Club, Bristol University and the City Museum and Art Gallery. The Vice Mayor also enjoyed a brief visit to Aztec West Business Park and a tour of the industrial areas of north Bristol. The Vice Mayor also discussed with Bristol City Football Club of the arrangement for BCFC to visit Guangzhou in July 2003.

Guangzhou Education Bureau’s Delegation (GZEB) School linking visit to Bristol, 17-21 June 2002

JILL RITCHIE, Senior Education Officer, were pleased to host a visit by representatives of Guangzhou Education Bureau in China, led by Mr HUA Tongxu, Deputy Director General. The programme included a meeting with Jill Ritchie, Bristol LEA Gordon Clements, Headteacher, Brislington Secondary School Ayleen Driver, Director of Brislington CLC.

And have visited; Monk Park School; Holymead Junior School; Whitfield Fishpond School; Queen Elizabeth Hospital School; Clifton College; they have also visited the Create Centre and Bristol Museum, Kate Newnham kindly contacted a tour of the Museum. On the 19th June, The Bristol China Partnership were pleased to host a dinner reception for the Guangzhou Education Delegation at the Dynasty Restaurant in Thomas Street. 

Guangzhou Standing Committee of Congress & The Environmental delegation visit, 1-2 September 2002.

The partnership were pleased to host a visit by Mr Dai Zhiguo, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Congress of the People’s Republic of China.  He and his party were entertained for lunch at the River Station Restaurant by Paul Barnett of the City Council, after first visiting the create Centre where the party were pleased to learn about the environmental projects. The party were pleased to gain an insight into various environmental projects and thought the visit worthwhile.  Later, at the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor Cllr Bill Martin explains the intricacies of the ceremonial sword to Mr Dai Zhiguo, Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of Congress of the People’s Republic of China.  The Lord Mayor enjoyed a stimulating exchange of ideas with members of the delegation. Bristol China Partnership members Wallace Kwong and Tracy Wong accompanied the delegation.

Guangzhou Vice Mayor, Mr Chen Chuanyu delegation’s visit, 17th September 2002.

The partnership were pleased to host a visit by Mr Chen Chuanyu Vice Mayor of Guangzhou and Ms Zhou Suqin, Director General of Guangzhou Bureau of Culture to the City of Bristol during September. The visit involved meeting with the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Cllr Bill Martin and other representatives from the City Council, a visit to Bristol Museum, a visit to Bristol University-Indoor Tennis Centre and later they enjoyed a tour of the Explore@Bristol centre.

BCP 4th ANNIVERSARY CELBRATION AT JURYS 15th OCTOBER 2002

Bristol China Partnership celebrated our 4th anniversary at the JURYS Hotel on the 15th October 2002, where members and friends from all over of the country travelled to Bristol in order to celebrate this very special occasion.

The guests of honour included Madame Zhang Xiaokang, Minister Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China to UK and wife of the Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to the United Kingdom; The President of Bristol China Partnership The Rt.Hon. the Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Bill Martin; The Lady Mayoress Sue Martin; Sir Robert Wall; Mr Zhang Jiming, of the People’s Republic of China to the UK; Timothy Jones, Director of International Foreign Affairs at the University of Bristol; David Gillatt, Urological Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol; Ms Wai Fong Li, Chairwomen of Swansea Chinese Community Co-op Centre; Mr Wai Man Wong and Raymond Chow, Honorary Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Association South West Region.

The programme of events provided a stimulating and entertaining mix of social and cultural exchanges and musical demonstrations. The event turned out to be great success and the level of positive response we received was overwhelming.

In particularly a letter from Madame Zhang Xiaokang, Minister Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China, as stating in the letter;

Madame Zhang’s letter Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, 21 October 2002.

The Bristol China Partnership, dear friends,

“On behalf of H.E. Ambassador Zha Peixin, I went to Bristol to join you in celebrating the fourth Anniversary of the launch of BCP on 15th October. I am grateful for all the warm hospitality granted.

Seeing is believing. In Bristol, my meeting with the Lord Mayor and my conversations with people there have convinced me that BCP is very successful in honouring its commitment made at its launch in 1998, namely, “building business and community alliance through greater cultural understanding”. On behalf of Ambassador Zha, and in my own name, I wish to extend the warmest congratulations on your remarkable success.

You are successful, because your work is based on three pillars:

• You have enjoyed firm support from the Lord Mayor of Bristol and the Bristol City Council as a whole;
• You have obtained the broadest participation of peoples from almost every sector of Bristol City;
• You have focused yourself on the delivery of practical results of cooperation between China and Bristol.

As an important part of friendly relationship between China and Bristol, your work has made contributions to the sustainable development of Sino-British relations. The significance of your work can never be overstressed.

Wish you continuous and greater success. If the Chinese Embassy can be of any help, please feel free to contact us.”

Yours sincerely: Zhang Xiaokang, Minister Counsellor

Linking Visit to Guangzhou by Bristol Headteachers & Deputy Headteachers, 26th October – 2nd November 2002

Participants:
Teresa Hill, Monks Park Secondary School
Gordon Clements, Brislington School
Duncan Cruickshank, Holymead Junior School
Ayleen Driver, Brislington Secondary School
Ian McGregor, Whitfield (Fishponds) School
Andrew Lewis-Barned, Queen Elizabeth Hospital School
Oliver Boyer, Clifton College

Arrival in Guangzhou on Sunday October 28^th. The programme included a Meeting with Jessy Lu of British Council in Guangzhou; Meeting with Mr Justin Gilbert Director of British Council, Guanghzou; Meeting with officials of Guangzhou Education Committee;

The main aims in visiting China

In particular stated aims were to:

• Gain experience of English curriculum (including Literature from the Chinese culture) and note approaches and interpretations in supporting learning.
• Observe methods of using ICT to support English teaching an across the curriculum
• Additionally to gain experience of PR and marketing methods at local, nation and international level.

FURTHER EXCHANGES

These are exciting times. In reflecting on another busy and demanding year, my overwhelming feeling is for the many achievements and ever-growing potential for our two cities and two countries.

Bristol City FC visit to China in July – Leave 16 July, return 25 July 2003

• Offers good facilities for training and 2 pre season matches
• Longer term aim of building on Chinese markets
• Support the Sister City relationship between Bristol and Guangzhou

Fixture:

• 21 July 6:00pm Bristol City FC v Guangzhou 
• 21 July 8:00pm Auckland v Kwangju (South Korea) 

• 23 July 6:00pm Quarter Finals at Tianhe Stadium (50,000)
• 23 July 8:00pm The Final

Initial visit:

• 9 March – Bristol City Council (officer Vic Ecclestone and local cultural organisation)

NOTE OF THANKS

I would also like to extend my pay tribute to our many sponsors who share this important role. I should also like to give my sincere thanks to John Hughes and congratulations to all our Officers and Members, particularly Wallace Kwong who helped immensely and contributing so much hard work to the Bristol China Partnership.

The Partnership would also like to express it’s sincere gratitude to;

• The Prime Minister Tony Blair MP
• His Excellency Mr Zha Peixin, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the UK
• Madame Zhang Xiaokang, Minister Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China to UK
• The Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr LIN Shusen, of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government
• Dawn Primarolo MP
• Jean Corston MP
• Valerie Davey MP
• Dr Doug Naysmith MP
• Roger Berry MP
• Andrew Seaton, Head of China Hong Kong Department
• Stephen Lillie, Consul-General of the British Consulate-General Guangzhou
• The Bristol City Council
• The President of the BCP, The Rt.Hon.the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Bill Martin
• The Lady Mayoress, Mrs Sue Martin
• Councillor Diane Bunyan, Leader of the Council
• Councillor Helen Holland
• Paul Barnett, Head of Cultural Service
• The Ex-Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Robertson and Mrs Joyce Robertson
• John Hughes, of Mail Marketing International
• Wendy Ho, of Dynasty Restaurant
• David Worthington, of Veale Wasbrough
• David Cook JP FCA Director, Forensic Accounting Group - NUMERICA
• Timothy Jones, Director of International Affairs, University of Bristol
• Ian Newton, of !Xclaim multimedia 

Many challenges still lie ahead. As we continue to learn and improve, I look forward to all your continuous support.

Kam Wong