Chinese Ambassador visits Jersey

Chinese Ambassador in Jersey

The Chinese Ambassador to the UK is in Jersey and hopes to promote trade and investment links with the island.

Madam Fu Ying is on a fact-finding mission at a time when Jersey Finance is setting up an office in Hong Kong.

She told BBC Jersey that during her visit she hopes to learn about the island, its industries and people.

"By visiting here, we can not only learn about this island but also bring the information back to the Chinese public," said Madam Fu Ying.

In an interview with BBC Jersey, Madam Fu Ying said that human rights have improved since her country was opened to the outside world.

Improvement has been made, especially when respect of human rights was incorporated into the constitution. Madam Fu Ying, Chinese Ambassador to the UK

She said a country of three billion people must respect and value human rights to enable it to grow.

"China with 1.3 billion people also values human rights. You really have to respect the rights of the people for a country of this size to grow in an orderly manner.

"There has been tremendous improvement in China in the field of human rights since its reform and opening to the outside world.

"Admittedly there was human rights problems, especially in the past when China was suffering from political turmoil.

"But improvement has been made, especially when respect of human rights was incorporated into the constitution," said Madam Fu Ying.

Tim Nash has a degree in Chinese and lived in the fourth largest city in China for several years.

Madam Fu Ying, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK was in Jersey

Since returning to the island he's set up Jersey China Consultancy.

Mr Nash says this week's visit from Madam Fu Ying is of enormous significance for the island.

Jersey has been trying to set up business links with China for some years, and recently the organisation that promotes Jersey as a finance centre opened an office in Hong Kong to try and drum up more business in the region.

But Mr Nash says business in China always starts with relationships.

He explains that people there just won't deal with a company unless they've already established a relationship with it - no matter how impressive its services are.

He says Madam Fu Ying's visit will build relationships between China and Jersey and so is very important for the local business community.

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Mark

Very Good for the Island and Business as China is the future, but we must be careful as some people in the States don't mind if Jersey becomes little Hong Kong and 5 Studio Flats replace a 1 Bed Cottage in Town :-(