Caroline Wilson, UK Ambassador-Designate to China

UK-China relations are under increasing strain, with London and Beijing clashing over the Hong Kong national security law and Huawei’s role in Britain’s 5G network.

At the same time, China remains the UK’s third largest export market after the EU and the US, with UK companies keen to do business with the world’s second largest economy. But with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating concerns about China in some quarters of UK policymaking, the ‘Golden Era’ of relations forged under the Cameron administration appears at risk of fading.

These are some of the challenges that Caroline Wilson, British Ambassador-Designate to China, will face when she takes up post in September 2020. Ahead of her departure to Beijing, Wilson will brief Corporate Members on the UK’s strategy for engaging with China and the current state of relations between the two countries. Wilson will also seek the views of Asia House Corporate Members on their own experiences, challenges and opportunities in the Chinese market.

Wilson, who joined the Foreign Office in 1995, previously served as HM Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao from 2012 to 2016, and was most recently Europe Director from 2016 to 2019. She will succeed Dame Barbara Woodward, who has been in post since 2015 and who briefed Asia House Corporate Members from Beijing in March.

This digital briefing is being held for Asia House Corporate Members only.

To register interest, please email Evie Cramb, Programme Coordinatior, at evie.cramb@asiahouse.co.uk