On 28 January 2026, the British Chamber of Commerce South China and the UK Department for Business and Trade jointly hosted the “Go Global 2026: Success in the UK and Beyond” Forum at the Park Hyatt Shenzhen. The event brought together over a hundred guests from government agencies, chambers of commerce, financial and legal institutions, technology firms, and pioneering international companies to explore how Chinese businesses can build resilience and achieve sustainable growth in today’s complex global environment.

Welcome & Opening

I opened the forum by underlining the importance of reliable partnerships in any successful international expansion strategy: “Successful global expansion depends on reliable partners.” The Chamber’s role in this — connecting UK and Chinese businesses, providing practical guidance and a trusted network — is at the heart of what Go Global is about.

Keynote remarks were delivered by Mr. Xie Zhen, Director of Guangdong’s Board of Investment Promotion, who highlighted the strength of current Guangdong-UK economic ties: bilateral trade reached RMB 150 billion in 2025, with UK investment into Guangdong growing by 85% year-on-year. Trevor Lewis, Head of Trade & Investment at the British Consulate-General Guangzhou, added that going global has evolved well beyond simple exporting — today it means building a full ecosystem encompassing local supply chains, brand localisation, cultural adaptation, and talent development.

Strategic MOU Signing

A headline moment of the forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the British Chamber of Commerce South China and the Going Global Comprehensive Service Center for Chinese Enterprises. The partnership adopts a “horizontal plus vertical” cooperation model — addressing the full life-cycle needs of overseas expansion horizontally, while providing precise industry-specific matching vertically. Together, the aim is to build a systematic UK market service framework for Chinese companies looking to enter and scale in Britain with the right professional partners behind them.

Expert Insights

The afternoon featured a strong line-up of speakers across finance, governance, tax, and brand:

Richard Li, Managing Director of HSBC South China, outlined financial pathways for Chinese companies entering the UK, noting that Britain remains a key destination in clean energy, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences — while also highlighting the growing opportunities in ASEAN and the Middle East. He recommended leveraging Hong Kong as a springboard and flagged the importance of managing rising compliance costs and currency risk.

Chris McComb of Law Debenture made a compelling case that governance is not a burden but an investment in success — transparency, accountability, and clear board structures are foundational to building credibility in the UK market.

Sylvia Wu of PwC delivered an incisive session on global tax strategy, noting that 78% of senior executives view tax uncertainty as a major barrier to international growth. Her message was clear: tax is not a cost, it is a strategy, and planning needs to be front-loaded and elevated to the boardroom.

Amars Mehmi of Juice brought a market insight that resonated strongly with the room: 95% of UK consumer purchase decisions are emotionally driven. Authentic storytelling and genuine cultural understanding matter far more than product specifications alone.

Zoey Zhang of Honor Device shared how the company has built a 90-person UK team in just four years, succeeding through deep collaboration with local operators, partners, and media — and through purpose-led brand initiatives that genuinely connect with British communities.

Panel Discussion: Trust & Resilience

The panel, themed “Trust and Resilience: The Path to Sustainable Growth for Chinese Companies Entering the UK Market”, produced several sharp takeaways. WeRide’s Maeve Zhang captured the room’s attention with a single line: “Don’t push the UK market with China speed — think from their pace and perspective.” Panellists from Amazon Web Services, Law Debenture, and Juice reinforced a common thread: great technology opens the door, but regulatory support and strong local partnerships are what allow you to scale.

Looking Ahead

The British Chamber of Commerce South China will continue its Go Global series throughout 2026, supporting Chinese enterprises in building the resilience and trusted networks needed to grow on the global stage.

Read the official press release: BCCSC Go Global 2026 Shenzhen Post-Event Press Release

For details of media coverage: [Media] Go Global 2026: A Forum That Made Headlines — Media Coverage Roundup – Mark Clayton