On March 26, 2025, Mr. Li Junru, Executive Vice Chairman of the Academic Committee of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), met with Sir Sebastian Wood, Chairman-elect of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and Chairman for China Affairs at Schroders plc. The two sides exchanged views on topics of mutual interest.

Following his warm welcome to Sir Sebastian Wood, who served as the British Ambassador to China between 2010 and 2015, Mr Li provided a concise introduction to CIIDS and its flagship initiative, Understanding China, and then moved to discuss China’s economic situation, policy directions, and prospects for scientific and technological innovation. While highlighting that China is entering a high-quality and higher-level opening-up development phase marked by confident and innovative strides, Mr. Li expressed his hope that Sir Sebastian would act in his capacities at CBBC and Schroders plc to inject greater impetus to China-UK economic and business collaboration, adding that CIIDS is ready to strengthen partnership with Sir Sebastian both personally and on an institutional level to foster mutual benefits across diverse sectors.

Sir Sebastian Wood nodded to the timeliness of deepening bilateral cooperation between the UK and China, citing the highly complementary economic structures and vast potential for collaboration between the two countries. He pledged to fully leverage his roles at CBBC and Schroders plc to actively contribute to advancing the British-China trade and investment ties, as much as his ability permits.

CIIDS Vice Chairman Mr. Feng Wei attended the meeting.