Leicestershire County Council and Sichuan Provincial Government officially become twinned regions in October 1988. Over decades, the relation has nurtured and benefited a wide range of bilateral exchanges across all sectors and at all aspects between the two regions. The relation has been considered as one of the longest standing regional twinning relations between UK and China, recognised by both regional and central governments of both countries.
CBRI has been commissioned by Leicestershire County Council since 2016 as the Council’s Consultant on China Affairs. CBRI’s main responsibilities include:
- Advising the Council regarding regional affairs with Sichuan and wider affairs with China
- Drafting long term strategies and short term action plans for the Council
- Arranging and delivering bilateral senior official visits
- Shadowing Cllr. Nicolas Rushton Leader of the Council at Sichuan and China related activities, drafting speaking notes and providing live advice on all aspects and levels
- Liaising on behalf of the Council as point of contact with Sichuan Provincial Government and relevant government departments to develop and enhance the twinning relation
- Supporting bilateral stakeholders on behalf of the Council to identify and initiate opportunities for business matching and collaboration based on the twinning relation
- Facilitating and troubleshooting at all levels
Reference: About Sichuan
September 2017 Mr Zhu Hexin Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial Government visiting Leicestershire, hosted by Cllr. Nicolas Rushton Leader of Leicestershire County Council
June 2018 Mr Huang Jianfa Director of CPC Sichuan Committee Organisation Department visiting Leicestershire, hosted by Cllr. Nicolas Rushton Leader of Leicestershire County Council
June 2019 Mr Deng Xiaogang Vice Party Secretary of CPC Sichuan Committee visiting Leicestershire, hosted by Cllr. Trevor Pendleton of Leicestershire County Council
October 2019 Mr Mark Oakley Director for Inward Investment and Place Marketing of Leicester City Council visiting Sichuan