‘Icebreaking’ spirit passed to next generation
At the 48 Group Club’s annual “Icebreakers” event in London on Monday, the club’s chairman Stephen Perry passed the baton to his son Jack Perry Junior.
The independent business network, which promotes equal and mutually beneficial trade between the United Kingdom and China, was established by Stephen Perry’s father Jack Perry Senior and a group of like-minded business owners in 1954, after their icebreaking visit to China the previous year during which they signed a number of trade agreements, breaking a trade embargo that Western countries had placed on China.
In a congratulatory message to the “Icebreakers” 2024 Chinese New Year celebration, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said facts have fully proved that strengthened cooperation between
China and the UK not only serves the fundamental interests of both countries, but also contributes to world peace and prosperity.
“The historic contributions made by the older generations of friends here in the UK will be remembered forever. And I believe that the new generation of ‘icebreakers’ will carry on their legacy and keep moving forward China-UK friendship,” Li said in the letter.
China’s Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang read the premier’s letter at the event to an audience of around 500 representatives from the British business community.
Zheng said the Chinese government has recently adopted more than 50 new measures to advance opening-up in the financial sector, will lift caps on foreign equity holdings in banking and insurance institutions, and will import $17 trillion worth of goods and services.
Zheng added that both countries need to further enhance cooperation in finance, new energy, biomedicine and the digital economy, expand cultural exchanges, and explore collaboration in third markets to complement each other and achieve win-win results.
After being officially announced as the next president of the 48 Group Club, Jack Perry Junior announced that the London-based group will launch chapters in 10 different locations over the next decade, with China and the United Arab Emirates chapters to be launched in their countries this year.
“Jack is going to take care of the group and he’s got a mission on his hands,” Stephen Perry said.
Fang Wenjian, chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, made a reference to the Year of the Dragon when addressing the audience, encouraging them to build stronger business ties.