Scotland lauches new strategy to boost engagement

The Scottish government on Tuesday launched a new five-year strategy for Scotland's engagement with China to boost Scotland's relationship with the emerging economy.

Launched by Scottish Cultural and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop on the first anniversary of the arrival of the giant pandas at the Edinburgh Zoo, the new China Strategy prioritized strengthening trade, education and cultural links with China among others.

A Scottish government press release said an additional estimated 220 million pounds (about 354.33 million U.S. dollars) has been generated as a result of strengthening Scotland's relationship with China.

Since the publication of the Scottish Government's first China Plan in 2006, Scottish exports to China have risen sharply and are now estimated to be worth about 1.3 billion pounds in 2007-2010, compared to about 1.08 billion pounds between 2003-2006, it added.

Hyslop said that Scotland's relationship with China was tremendously important, and that the Scottish government had been working hard since 2006 to deepen existing ties and establish new areas of cooperation, an approach that is clearly paying dividends.

"Our new China Strategy will build on these successes and ensure that Scotland's engagement with China continues to deliver tangible results -- such as the boost to sales of food and drink and the loan of two Giant Pandas to Edinburgh Zoo," she added, terming the Pandas as a symbol of the great and growing friendship between Scotland and China.

Hyslop noted that the Strategy set out Scotland's ambitions to broaden and deepen links and common interests with China,

She said it was vital that the Scottish Government, agencies and Scotland's business and education organizations do all they can to continue advancing relations between the two sides, "particularly as we pursue opportunities to generate economic growth and build a stronger Scotland."