Kirsty McNeill: Why I spent a week making Scotland's case in China

Both nations cherish ancient landmarks that have stood the test of time. Both have built reputations for world-class craftsmanship — whether that's a fine Scotch whisky or a glass of Baijiu. And both are home to communities with an eye firmly on the future, investing in the technologies and partnerships that will define the decades ahead.

I was in China as part of a trade delegation led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, alongside business representatives from across Scotland's key sectors — spanning clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and Scotland's world-class universities.

It was a busy, productive week — and I want to be straight with readers about why I went, what we achieved, and why this relationship matters for working people in Scotland.

Let me start with the why. China is the UK's third largest trading partner, supporting 370,000 British jobs. Scotland's goods exports to China surged 32.6 per cent to £1.47 billion in 2024 — the second-highest growth rate of any region.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister secured a halving of Chinese tariffs on Scotch whisky, a deal worth an estimated £250 million to our economy over five years. China is already Scotch whisky's tenth largest market by value, and that figure will only grow. Bilateral trade between the UK and China is worth £110 billion in total — a relationship of enormous consequence for Scottish jobs, businesses and communities.

In that context, choosing not to engage is no choice at all. I am not naive about the challenges this relationship presents. The UK Government is clear-eyed about the threats China poses — from cyber security to espionage — and we will always challenge where we must.

But a policy of simply standing back would be a dereliction of duty to the Scottish businesses and workers whose livelihoods depend on getting this right. Our approach is consistent: cooperate where we can, challenge where we must.

So what did we do? In Beijing, I met with aviation authorities and airline executives to advance the case for a new direct air route between Shanghai and Scotland. Better connectivity between Scotland and China would be transformative — for trade, for tourism, and for the tens of thousands of Chinese students who choose Scottish universities each year. We also discussed this issue with the Shanghai Government who are keen to see closer links between the city, which is the commercial heart of China, and Scotland.

The Scotland Office and the UK's extensive diplomatic network will now follow-up these discussions working with Scottish businesses to open opportunities in this vast market.

In Shanghai, I addressed the China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair to make the case for Scotland. I was honoured to deliver a keynote speech and officially inaugurate the Scottish City Region Pavilion, celebrating five great Scottish cities; Edinburgh's world-class strengths in fintech and data science; Glasgow's emergence as a major innovation destination and life sciences powerhouse; Dundee's reputation as a centre of excellence for digital technology and AI-driven healthcare; Inverness's growing credentials as a regional hub for digital health and environmental tech; and Stirling's focus on green innovation, backed by new international research investment in aquaculture and the environment.

These are assets that Chinese investors and partners need to know about. Our presence at the fair, alongside a strong Scottish business delegation, sent a clear signal: Scotland is open, ambitious, and ready to compete on the world stage.

I also had the pleasure of having an immersive discussion on a topic close to my heart – meeting and learning from inspiring women in business and leadership. An essential area for shared collaboration and networks between the UK and China, where we share similar challenges and opportunities. The women I met were building businesses, creating jobs, and finding ways to work across cultural and geographical divides. Scotland has much to learn from them, and much to offer in return.

We are supporting Glasgow to establish a longer-term Scottish presence in Beijing's Chaoyang International Zone, and to develop a structured Scotland-China tourism programme that will make it easier for Chinese visitors to discover everything Scotland has to offer — from our world-class cities to our extraordinary landscape.

None of this happens overnight. Trade relationships are built through patient, consistent engagement — not grand gestures or grandstanding.

The Prime Minister's visit to Beijing in January laid important groundwork. This visit built on it. Future visits will build on this one. Every Scottish business that wins a contract in China, every Chinese tourist who books a trip to the Highlands, every student who chooses a Scottish university — these are the returns on the investment we are making.

Scotland's future is outward-looking, ambitious, and connected to the world. That is what this visit was about. And there is much more to come.

Kirsty McNeill, UK Government Minister for Scotland