After 3 days of events in Edinburgh meeting their Scottish counterparts, Guo Xiangyu Deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Youth Federation and leader of the delegation of 25 young business leaders from China said they had had ‘ the most meaning-full, positive, productive and fun time with the Scottish [...]]]> click here for the main page of event

After 3 days of events in Edinburgh meeting their Scottish counterparts, Guo Xiangyu Deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Youth Federation and leader of the delegation of 25 young business leaders from China said they had had ‘ the most meaning-full, positive, productive and fun time with the Scottish Young Icebreakers’.

The events kicked off on Monday with a day of networking and debate at the stunning Confucius Institute where the 50 young leaders from China and Scotland engaged in talks with Eric Balish (Director of Trade and Finance of Barclays Commercial Bank), Owen Kelly (Director of Scottish Financial Enterprise), Geoff Leask (Head of Operations Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust), Natasha Gentz (Director The Confucius Institute for Scotland) and Paul Docherty (Director British Council Scotland ). The main part of the day was speant working with each other to discuss issues affecting the debate in the environment; the health of future generations, and the material heritage of our culture.

The second day begun with another networking session and lunch at Edinburgh Napiers Craighouse Campus. Here the delegates met some of Napier’s top performing international students and young entrepreneurs from the Moffat Center. Jack Worden, Dean of the International College and staff from Napier’s Business School were on hand to welcome and introduce the university and its students. The highlight and focus of the day was a long conversation with Antonia Swinson (Chief Executive Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition) where the delegates really engaged with the concept of Social Enterprise and how it could be applied to create rapid positive social change in China. The day ended with a trip to the Scottish Parliment where the delegates had a tour and heared from Tom McCabe (Chair of Cross party Group on China).

The final day at Edinburgh Zoo ended with an outstanding positive result. After a talk and reception from David Windmill (Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society), Guo Xiangyu (Deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Youth Federation and leader of the delegation) pledged to write a letter to recommend and support the Panda breeding programme to the Head of the Chinese Forestry Commission. He was ‘very impressed with the beauty and high standards of Edinburgh Zoo/ and how happy the animals conditions were’.

This groundbreaking programme was put together in a collaberation between the British Council and Scottish Young Icebreakers to make the most of the final stage of the UK/China 400 Scheme.

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) — China’s government has opened a new range of government-run industries to the private sector, either through investment in existing companies or establishment of new firms. The government also announced Thursday that it would improve financing services and [...]]]> Major piece of news from China that provides a massive opportunity to the UK’s economy.

BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) — China’s government has opened a new range of government-run industries to the private sector, either through investment in existing companies or establishment of new firms.
The government also announced Thursday that it would improve financing services and simplify administrative procedures for private sector involvement in those industries.

Water projects, power generation, mining, and logistics — currently mainly state controlled — would be opened to the private sector, said a statement on the central government website, www.gov.cn.

The statement also reiterated the opening of sectors announced at a State Council executive meeting in March, including education, welfare, transport infrastructure, telecommunications and energy, public utilities, scientific and technological programs for national defense, affordable housing construction and cultural industries.

Private investors could also participate in the establishment of financial institutions by investing in commercial financial institutions and establishing rural banks, credit companies, credit guarantee companies, and rural fund cooperatives.

Private companies were welcomed to participate in the reform of state firms through assets acquisitions or increasing their holdings in them, the statement said.

The government also restated its support for independent innovation in the private sector, encouraging the development of new products and investment in emerging industries, such as bio-medicine, new energy, environment protection and recycling.

Private companies were encouraged to increase overseas investment by conducting international operations outside China, establishing multinational corporations and developing leading brands.

The government would improve financing services for private companies by strengthening the venture capital investment system, and helping with the financing of private firms through equities and bonds.

The government would simplify administrative procedures by making them more efficient and cutting fees.

It promised to step up efforts to create a good environment for private investment by setting up a sound administrative service system and amending unfavorable laws and regulations in its March statement.

The government would also provide guidance for private investors by reporting industrial trends and latest policies. It also instructed industry associations and chambers of commerce to help with finance, technologies, management, and legal affairs.

Private investment played an important role in creating jobs, boosting domestic consumption and providing impetus for economic development, which would help the country maintain sustainable economic growth, it said.

“State capital should focus on ‘key industries’ that are crucial to the development of national economy, and government investment focus on sectors important to the national security……while the other sectors should be wide open to private investment,” said the statement.

We have 15 places for the Young Icebreakers at this event.

If you would like to attend, please let Jean Jameson know by return email before 5pm [...]]]> HE Ambassador Liu Xiaoming will be hosting a reception for the opening of Shanghai Expo on Friday 30^th April 2010, from 12:30 – 14:00, at Chinese Embassy, 49/51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL.

We have 15 places for the Young Icebreakers at this event.

If you would like to attend, please let Jean Jameson know by return email before 5pm on Friday 9^th April.  Registrations will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

Email: admin@48groupclub.org; secretariat@48groupclub.org

For a week in early February, Adam Purvis who is leading the Young Icebreakers in Scotland attended the inaugural One Young World Summit in London as one of 13 UK Ambassadors. This was made possible by generous contributions from Lord Smith and Edinburgh Napier University.

One Young World is the premier global forum for young people of leadership calibre. It manifests the reality of common humanity and the shared existence of all the peoples in one world. Its purpose is to connect and bring together the youngest, brightest and best and to ensure that their concerns, opinions and solutions are heard and taken into account by those in power, whether in government, business or any other sector.

To be a One Young World Delegate is a special and singular honour for young leaders. Delegates attend the annual summit and represent their country on the world stage.

The Inaugural Summit was held in London on February 8 to 10, 2010 and drew 823 young leaders from 112 countries including over 50 delegates from China. Councillors included no less than 3 noble peace price laureates, Kofi Annan, Desmond TuTu and Muhamad Yunus.

One Young World Main Highlights

The summit focused on 6 key Resolutions developed in response to the most pressing issues in the world today, as identified as by the One Young WorldGlobal Consultation Process, a poll of over 15,000 respondents aged 18-27 years old from 34 countries in every continent on the planet.

The Resolutions were the focus of the Summit’s plenary sessions whereCounsellors such as Kofi Annan, Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus and Desmond Tutu facilitated debate and dialogue between the Delegate speakers and their audience. At the end of each session, the Delegates voted on the Resolutions and an online audience vote was also taken:

With the Resolutions passed, the important work for which the Delegate Ambassadors of the Inaugural Summit are now responsible is as follows:

• To publicise the One Young World Resolutions within their communities and beyond
• To define the concrete steps they are taking, both individually and collectively to show the way to deliver on the Resolutions
• To seek out and identify Delegates from their countries for One Young World 2011
• To promulgate the One Young World Values they themselves have determined.

One Young World is currently developing a new web platform and tools where their efforts will be showcased. The new and improved One Young World website launches at the end of April 2010.

Create a pool of exceptionally well connected Icebreakers with high level China-focused international networks that have the ability to reach [...]]]> Our objectives

Enhance the ability of Scotland’s next generation of globally-minded business leaders to continually create, develop and make use of opportunities that will benefit the economic, social and environmental prosperity of Scotland.

Create a pool of exceptionally well connected Icebreakers with high level China-focused international networks that have the ability to reach decision makers and get things done.

Educate the network to provide a genuine understanding of China, its cultures, people and the language using both Scotland’s existing China focused education establishments/networks (Confucius institute, SCEN, etc) as well as high level international sources made available through the network/founders.

Continually develop a steady stream of confident, determined young Icebreakers

Stimulate and support the growth of our China body and their alignment and appreciation of our values and culture.

Develop an innovative resourceful system so that the network that does not rely on extensive funding to thrive.

Forward

Scotland already has a wide range of organisations focused on providing information and links with China, so what makes the Young Icebreakers different?

The Young Icebreakers were founded by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and the 48 Group Club early this year. Because our network is supported at such a high level our ability to follow through with our objectives is considerable. The Young Icebreakers have formed a strong and fast growing membership in London and Beijing. Now Scotland is piloting a growth strategy for the group headed up by the 48 Group Club and supported by Lord Robert Smith and Jack McConnell. Adding to this the Young Icebreakers will seek to work alongside the UK’s existing organisations such as SCEN, the Confucius institute and with schemes such as the Foreign Secretary’s UK-China 400 in which we already involved.

Our strategy

We aim to launch our programme by pulling together a team of highly driven, innovative, young professionals initially selected from 30 of Scotland’s best organisations. On top of this, close links with Scottish Enterprise’s Saltire Foundation will create a constant feed of Saltire Alumni into our network.

This process will equip us with the best people from the top organisations already with their own influential networks and resources. This mix of talent will be brought together into a commanding, productive and efficient network. Building on a programme of groundbreaking events and exchanges, the Young Icebreakers will prepare our next generation of leaders and the Scottish community for the century of China.

“The Saltire Foundation Alumni Association is happy to support Young Ice Breakers in their quest to enhance the ability of Scotland’s next generation of globally-minded business leaders to continually create, develop and make use of opportunities that will benefit the economic, social and environmental prosperity of Scotland. YIB’s mission runs parallel with the Saltire Foundation’s ultimate aim of helping Scotland grow and develop into a significant player on the international business stage by promoting a culture of enterprise amongst its interns.  By working together we are confident that these aims can become a reality.”

-Euan Fraser, Alumni Integration team.