The partnership could open up substantial business opportunities between Leeds, the UK’s fastest growing economic centre, and China, the world’s fastest growing economy.
Leeds Legal, which is backed by the Leeds Law Society and the regional office of the Law Society of England & Wales, is hosting a working lunch at the Hilton Hotel on 31st May with some of the most senior officials from the Hangzhou Municipal Government and business representatives.
The 11-strong delegation is led by Yu Huida, deputy party secretary of the Hangzhou Municipal Government who is one of the province’s highest ranking officials. The meeting will see LeedsLegal explore a partnership between the two cities’ legal professions, with a view to establishing trade links with the world’s second largest trading nation.
The partnership is part of LeedsLegal’s drive to create international business for the city’s legal profession. It comes just days before the launch of Leeds Legal’s first European event which will take place in Brussels at the British Embassy on 7th June 2006.
Following the meeting at the Hilton Hotel, the delegation from Hangzhou will attend a briefing to learn more about the UK’s legislative system. The Hangzhou officials will also learn more about and community safety partnerships with Leeds City Council.
Deborah Green, Yorkshire regional manager for The Law Society of England and Wales and spokesperson for LeedsLegal said: “This meeting has great potential for opening up opportunities for Leeds lawyers to work for businesses in Hangzhou though establishing links with lawyers in the province. Our campaign is about promoting Leeds as a centre of legal excellence across the globe and this meeting gives the ideal platform for us to do just that.
“The Leeds – Hangzhou partnership is one of the most successful examples of a UK-China partner relationship in the UK. We are very proud to be establishing strong relationships to help drive business to Leeds, the second largest legal centre in the UK. A large amount of hard work and dedication has been put into the Leeds Legal campaign and we feel it will provide a massive boost to the Leeds legal profession.”
The Leeds-Hangzhou relationship has been developing steadily since 1996 with regular trade missions, visits by official delegations, University links, schools partnerships. Relations with the authorities in Hangzhou have strengthened further over the years with Leeds’ attendance at the annual West Lake Expo, the involvement of both Universities and the trade development work of Leeds business support agencies.
