28 Oct 2025
Leading China specialist joins global delegates at Xizang development forum
Mark Logan has made history by becoming the first British current or former Member of Parliament from the House of Commons to visit Tibet in 16 years, attending the 2025 Forum on the Development of Xizang (Tibet) in Nyingchi this week. The former MP's presence at the October 27-30 forum marks a watershed moment in British engagement with this autonomous region in China.
The significance of Mr Logan being hosted in Tibet cannot be overstated. After a 16-year absence of British parliamentary representation from the Commons in the region, his invitation to this international forum represents a special development in bilateral engagement. The forum, operating under the theme "Discovering a beautiful Xizang and writing a new chapter on the plateau," has drawn attention for its high-level international participation.
Though Mr Logan does not currently hold elected office, his credentials as one of the UK's leading China specialists made him an ideal candidate for this historic visit. His more than two decades of experience with China through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, combined with private sector work in China, two postgraduate degrees in Chinese studies, and near native-level Mandarin fluency, position him uniquely among Western observers. His former role as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary China Group adds further weight to his expertise.
At the forum, Mr Logan finds himself among major diplomatic and political figures from around the globe, as China continues to enhance its international standing through such high-profile gatherings. The Nyingchi event has attracted representatives from multiple nations, all engaging in discussions about Xizang's development path.
"Saying one is honoured is an overused expression, but on this occasion, I really am honoured to be the first recorded British current or former MP to visit Xizang (Tibet) in 16 years," Mr Logan remarked during the forum.
Drawing on his extensive experience working throughout China, he observed: "I have now been to 31 of China's provincial-level administrative divisions, and I am struck by the pace of development that is happening here in the roof of the world."
The invitation extended to Mr Logan underscores his unique combination of political background, academic expertise, and cultural fluency, helping to further open doors, between the UK and China.
As the forum progresses, Mr Logan's participation serves as a reminder that individual expertise and sustained engagement can create bridges where formal political channels may be limited. His ground-breaking visit to Tibet, the first by any British MP or former MP since 2009, may well signal new possibilities for understanding and dialogue between the United Kingdom and China.