Let students lead the way to stronger links to China
Liam visiting the MG plant in Longbridge
At a visit to MG Motors in Longbridge , Liam Byrne called for Birmingham students to lead the way in strengthening our links to China.
He pledged that if elected mayor, he will work with the Chinese Government to radically extend the Study in China programme to allow Birmingham students to strengthen the bond between Birmingham and China.
The programme, sponsored by the Chinese Government, provides a scholarship for a lucky student to study in China for bachelor, master or doctoral degrees, or Chinese language courses.
Liam has worked extensively in China over the last 6 years, twice meeting China’s Premier Wen for talks, and helping create the UK-China Young Leaders’ conference now in its third year. He sits on the board of the GB-China Centre which organises dialogue between Britain and China. The idea for the scholarship came from China’s ambassador Liu Xiaoming after visiting Liam in Hodge Hill.
Liam said:
’The Study in China programme is an amazing chance for a lucky Birmingham youngster to study in the world’s fastest growing great nation.
‘You only have to look at the amazing work underway at Longbridge where China and Birmingham are developing the next generation of MG cars to see just how important China is going to be for the city. That’s why we need Birmingham students studying in China today.
‘In 8 years time China may be the world’s largest consumer market. We’re just at the beginning of what’s going to be an incredible relationship and this new scholarship is a big step forward’.
The pledge comes as Liam visited MG Motors in Longbridge to test drive the firm’s ground-breaking new Magnette.
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