24 Apr 2026
Logan the Only National-Level UK Political Figure at Senior Chinese Delegation's London Briefing
East Asia and China specialist Mark Logan was among a select group of senior figures invited to attend a high-level briefing in London on 24 April on China's economic development strategy and Sino-British trade cooperation, and was the only national-level political figure from the UK-side in attendance.
The event, jointly organised by the China-Britain Business Council and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce UK, was addressed by Ma Jiantang, Standing Member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice-Chairman of its Economic Affairs Committee. Ma delivered the keynote address, setting out the framework and key priorities of China's forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, and outlined the opportunities this presents for international partners including the United Kingdom.
Also participating were Wu Hongbo, former Chinese Special Envoy for European Affairs, and Jin Li, Vice-President of the Southern University of Science and Technology. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang gave remarks, as did China-Britain Business Council President Peter Burnett and British Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Fang Wenjian. Over 150 representatives from British government, business, and academic circles were in attendance.
Logan, whose career spans over two decades of engagement with China through diplomacy, the private sector, and academic research, said he continued to follow China's Five-Year planning process closely. He noted that China's development model was accelerating its transition toward high-quality growth, and that significant opportunities remained, particularly in areas where the UK holds comparative strengths, including financial services, the creative industries, and professional services. Logan highlighted the strong potential for both UK-China joint ventures and Chinese inward investment into Britain.
The event was covered by multiple media channels.