Find out the latest from our office in Beijing, including a news roundup, Scottish representation at the 2015 China Golf Show and a "meet the team" feature on Iris Fu!

1. BELATED MAR/APR BULLETIN FROM THE SCOTTISH AFFAIRS OFFICE IN
BEIJING
Xi gets royal invitation to Britain: China Daily, Page 1. March 3 - President Xi Jinping received an
invitation on Monday from Queen Elizabeth II to visit Britain. It was conveyed by Prince William, the
most senior British royal to visit China in nearly three decades, during a meeting that covered various
topics, including soccer and the impending birth of the prince's second child. Xi told Prince William that
he looks forward to visiting Britain this year and jointly mapping out the future of Sino-British relations.
Forty-six countries lured by funding bank: China Daily, Page 1. April 1 - Forty-six countries had
joined or applied to become founding members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank when the deadline closed on Tuesday. Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and
Switzerland have officially sought founder membership of the bank, the Ministry of Finance said.
China to implement bank deposit insurance in May: BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese
government announced on Tuesday that it will implement the long-awaited bank deposit insurance
scheme in May, taking a key step in the country's financial reform. From May, financial institutions will be
required to pay insurance premiums into a fund that will be managed by an agency appointed by the State
Council, according to a statement posted on the government website.
China, Japan hold first security meeting in 4 years TOKYO, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Foreign and defence
officials from China and Japan kicked off a high-level security meeting here on Thursday, the first one
between the two sides in more than four years.
New free trade zones expected to counter sluggish growth : Global Times Online March 25 - China
has approved plans to build three new free trade zones (FTZs) in Guangdong, Tianjin, and Fujian, as
well as proposals to deepen reforms in the Shanghai FTZ, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday,
adding to the fervour for reforms in the world's second-largest economy.
NGOs feel the pinch as China mulls law on foreign funds : Global Times Online: March 18 -
Discussion of a new law to specifically regulate overseas NGOs began in October last year.
Legislative work began in December last year when the State Council submitted the draft law to the
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for deliberation.
Smog documentary goes viral with 100m viewers: China Daily, Page 4 March 2 - A documentary
about air pollution has gone viral online, attracting more than 100 million viewers within 24 hours,
including the new head of the national environmental watchdog. Pollution is expected to be a hot topic as
more than 5,000 legislators and political advisers gather to attend the two sessions, or plenary meetings of
China‟s top legislative and consultative bodies.
China to credit for British car industry's possible new record in 2017 LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) --
The British car industry is expected to manufactured more cars in 2017 than its previous record
high in 1972, as the continuing growth of export markets such as China and the increasing interest in
UK's cars boosts production, said the country's car industry body on Monday.
China sets sights on World Cup China Daily, Page 1. March 17 - Once regarded as unattainable
dreams, hosting and eventually winning the soccer World Cup have become serious goals for
China under a national plan unveiled on Monday to make the sport a truly mass game. One important
feature of the soccer reform plan, issued by the State Council, the country's cabinet, is to streamline the
sport's widely criticized counterproductive management system.
Why Chinese parents are sending their children abroad to study at a younger age South China
Morning Post March 25 - Parents are turning to overseas kindergartens as well as public and private high
schools in search of a broad education for their children. AW
News Roundup
NPC meetings in March : China’s top legislative body, the National
People’s Congress (NPC), convened in March. Below is an overview of
the three key issues that were discussed.
ECONOMIC GROWTH : The economic target for 2015 was, as expected,
lowered to „around 7.0 per cent‟, down from last year‟s „around 7.5 per
cent‟. Premier Li Keqiang and others emphasised that employment
generation and income growth were more important than growth of itself.
Latest economic data suggest achieving 7 per cent growth this year won‟t be
straightforward. Reflecting this, the People‟s Bank have in recent weeks
taken small steps to support growth. However, recent history suggests only
the brave or foolhardy would bet against China achieving its target. As
Premier Li told journalists at the closing press conference, the authorities still
have a lot of policy options if growth does falter further.
ENVIRONMENT AND LOW-CARBON GROWTH: Rhetoric on pollution was strong,
with Premier Li pledging “to take a firm and unrelenting approach in this work,
to ensure we always have blue skies, clear waters, and sustainable
development.” The new Minister for Environmental Protection Chen Jining
said the government would revise the air pollution law, set further coal caps,
and implement the State Council‟s plan for air pollution.
The data released in the work report were encouraging. Carbon emissions per
unit of GDP dropped an unprecedented 6.2% in 2014, compared with an
equivalent fall last year of around 3.5%. Coal consumption fell 2.9%,
suggesting a small drop in CO2 emissions from energy. Some of this is due to
slower economic growth and a bit is thanks to unusually heavy rainfall
delivering more hydroelectric power. But it does seem China is making
progress in delinking growth from emissions.
ANTI-CORRUPTION : The spectre of anti-corruption hung over the whole event.
Some of this was cosmetic or rhetorical. Expensive evening functions were
curtailed and the list of free drinks and snacks available for delegates was
reduced. Premier Li warned that rebalancing the economy would involve
deep and painful reforms, akin to “cutting out flesh with a knife” rather than
cosmetic “nail trimming”. Specific anti-corruption measures were embedded
in broader reforms: governing the country in accordance with the Constitution
and the rule of law; administrative reforms aimed at simplifying government
and clarifying when it should relinquish powers; and strengthening public
accountability. Li also announced that all provincial governments should write
down and publicise their powers in 2015, with city governments following suit
in 2016. AW
CHINA IN NUMBERS: 2015 would be the 37th year of near-
continuous super-fast growth (i.e. above 6 percent per year) in
China. This is historically unprecedented: the average length of a
super-fast growth period is 9 years. Balanced against this are China’s
low starting-point and an impressive track-record on implementing
sensible structural reforms. AW
UNCLASSIFIED

2. MEET THE TEAM – IRIS FU
I am 傅霜露, but my colleagues call
me Iris. I’ve been working with
John and Anjing in the Scottish Affairs
Office Beijing for 2.5 years. My main
roles in the office are to support on
logistics and finance; organise events
such as Ceilidhs, alumni networking
dinners, etc; as well as managing the
Scottish Government’s social media
platforms to promote Scotland ito a
Chinese audience. I studied Media Management at University of
Glasgow from 2011-12.
My favourite part of the city is Ashton Lane near the campus – and its
restaurants & bars. I also like the Grosvenor Cinema and the small
Sunday market.
My favourite place in Beijing is also a small lane called Wudaoying
(not the one in my picture). On this small alley, you can enjoy modern
Chinese cuisine, Spanish paellas, German sausages in ancient Chinese
courtyard houses with elderly Chinese people relaxing with the friends
in a very traditional Chinese way.
One of my favourite phrases is No Zuo No Die. This phrase is of
Chinglish origin. It means if you don't do stupid things, they won't
come back and bite you . (But if you do, they most certainly will.) Zuo
/zwo/ is a Chinese character meaning ‘to make trouble out of nothing’.
In spoken Chinese, people often use this phrase to make jokes about
each others. It is also used to mock those who seek trouble for
themselves or act in a strange way.
Eg: Mike: I ate six hamburgers in the evening and now my stomach is
aching!
Bob: No Zuo No Die IF
Team Scotland: SDI delegates
attend 2015 China Golf Show:
In March Scottish Development
International debuted at the
China Golf Show for the first
time along with its national golf
delegation group including
members from prestigious
Scottish golf links, golf
equipment manufacturers,
academic institutions, luxury
hotel, customized golf tour
agencies and textile companies .
Delegates promoted Scotland's
golf heritage, classic and
legendary golf facilities, unique
golf tourism opportunities
During the exhibition, visitors
also got a chance to learn about
Whisky by joining the taste of
Scottish single malt Whisky bar
area of the SDI stand. SDI
John Somers JS : John.Somers@fco.gov.uk
Anjing Wang AW : Wang.Anjingf@co.gov.uk
Iris Fu IF: Iris.fu@fco.gov.uk