Chongqing—In March 2024, Anthony Preston, the new British Consul General in Chongqing, took office. This marks his third visit to the city, which he finds familiar and dear.

"For me, every day in Chongqing is new. I am always trying to go to new places, experience new things, or meet new people," he said, sharing his impressions of the city's changes and constants.

"If you look at the skyline around us today, I think it is very different from when I first visited it in the year 2000. What impresses me most is that Chongqing, compared to some other cities in China, has done a good job of developing but also maintaining some of its traditional characteristics, including maintaining some of the historical buildings, which give Chongqing such rich cultural importance, but also the natural surroundings of the city as well."

In recent years, Chongqing has gained popularity on social media networks, a "web celebrity" effect that has caught his attention.

"I've also noticed that Chongqing has been very effective at harnessing online social media to create a buzz and attract domestic tourists and investment," Anthony Preston said. At the same time, Chongqing's strategic position is constantly being elevated, which has also drawn his attention. Regarding this, he hopes to gain a deeper understanding of Chongqing's policies and business environment, to have more opportunities for exchange, and to bring British investment to Chongqing.

Currently, Chongqing and the UK have cooperated in construction, culture, healthcare, environmental protection, and health. Speaking of future areas of cooperation, he stated that they would continue to deepen and strengthen their cooperation in various fields, including education, healthcare services, infrastructure, creative industries, climate change, and green development.