News and Activities

2012 AGM and Lectures by Mr. Zhou Xiaoming and Dr. Gerard Lyons

The 48 Group Club with the kind sponsorship of KPMG, and in association with London & Partners, held their Annual General Meeting. The AGM was followed by Icebreaker Lectures delivered by Mr. Zhou Xiaoming, Minister Counsellor, Economic, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Dr. Gerard Lyons,Chief Economic Advisor to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
The topics of both lectures focussed upon the recent 18th Party Congress in China, the new leadership and the direct implications for China – UK trade, as well as the broader global challenges for China and the UK.
There is no doubt that the next five years in China will prove to be the most significant, since the country embarked on the road to reform and opening up some 35 years ago. More than ever before developments in China will affect and shape the world. The views of these two most experienced individuals were invaluable for all businesses in the UK.

Icebreaker Lecture on 12th December 2012

H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming gave the Icebreaker lecture organised by The 48 Group Club with the kind sponsorship of Linklaters LLP, a leading global firm, on the recent 18th CPC National Congress held in Beijing, including the background of the new leaders, their priorities and the potential for the UK. The proceedings were initiated by Stephen Perry and chaired by Jim O’Neill, Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

The full video of proceedings is available on the Members Only page

China CITIC Bank Meeting

On October 8th 2012 at KPMG Offices in Salisbury Square a meeting took place between senior executives of China CITIC Bank and some leading British business leaders, academics and politicians facilitated by The 48 Group Club. The China CITIC Bank executive delegation was lead by Su Guoxin, Executive Vice-President.

Representatives from British business leaders included Martin Lamb, CEO IMI, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Deputy Chair of the All Parliamentary Party China Group, Mehmet Ogutcu, Chair of Global Rescources Corp/ Invensys Plc Advisory Board, Nigel Pridmore, Partner, Linklaters and Professor Zheng-Xiao Guo Pro Provost China, University College of London. KPMG was represented by two Partners, Giles Adams and Pendar Ostover.

Stephen Perry, Chair, Keith Bennett and Daniel Jacoel represented The 48 Group Club

The meeting was very cordial and open discussions and dialogue took place around current developments in China, exploring services that CITIC Bank offered globally and highlighting the work UK companies were undertaking in China. Su Guoxin stressed that China CITIC Bank was growing rapidly in support of China’s rapidly growing globalisation and that they were considering the feasibility of setting up an office in London.

7th Annual Sino-British Golf Day

At 9.00 am on 20th September the 7th Sino-British Golf Day got under way at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club with 43 participants on the main course and 13 in the clinic (for those who had never played golf ,or did not feel confident enough to take part with the other main course players).

Aldwickbury Park Golf Club is set in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside near Wheathamstead and with dry and sunny conditions this was the perfect backdrop for a wonderful game of golf.

Participants included senior representatives who had come from China, Chinese companies based in the UK and British companies with links to China. Play was finished by about 2.00 pm and lunch was served at 3.00. The course was tough and challenging and the Club with its excellent facilities and attentive staff proved to be a popular backdrop for this annual event. Comments from those who took part can be summed up as a great networking opportunity, a great venue, excellent course and wonderful food and wine.

Thanks to John Machin, Partner of KPMG for handing out the prizes. The men’s winner of the tournament was John Mills, CEO of Vision 247 with runner up David Cheng of KPMG and third place James Wang. The ladies winner was Elisa Shen of London Clubs.

The 48 Group Club is grateful not only for the generous sponsorship by KPMG of this event, but also their donation of competition prizes and raffle, and especially the dedicated KPMG staff who planned, organised and ran this event.

Surplus proceeds from the event have been donated to the Chinese Welfare Trust,

The Club’s high-profile Chinese New Year celebrations

Mr Li Yuanchao, Politburo Member and Head of the Organisation Department of the CPC Central Committee gives an Icebreaker Lecture on “Building a Harmonious Society” at the House of Commons on 21 March 2007

The Club’s high-profile Chinese New Year celebrations held at prestigious locations such as the Guildhall in London and in the regions have become landmarks in the Sino-British calendar, attracting a huge amount of interest. While in the last two years, we have been honoured to hold the annual Icebreaker Reception at the Chinese Embassy in London.

The Club’s Icebreaker Lectures, held at venues ranging from Cambridge University to the Great Hall of the People, provide a forum for senior business and government representatives from both countries to share insights into important issues. Speakers in the last year alone have included Lord Browne of BP, Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, China’s Minister of Education, Zhou Ji, and Zheng Bijian, Chairman of the China Reform Forum and former Executive Vice-President of the Central Party School.