Chongqing - The UK Pavilion opened on May 21 at the Chongqing International Expo Center, highlighting British trade and innovation, with the United Kingdom serving as guest country of honor at the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT).

The UK Pavilion at the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Chongqing. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Flowing light trails swept across the pavilion, echoing the UK’s modern industrial strategy and symbolizing innovation, speed, and industrial momentum.

Inside, 35 British companies are showcasing products, technologies, and solutions in sectors including advanced manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, and green infrastructure.

Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong, speaks at the opening ceremony of the UK Pavilion during the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Chongqing on May 21, 2026. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

"The UK Pavilion reflects the depth of our current engagement and our ambition for future collaboration in Chongqing and beyond," said Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China and Hong Kong.

"Our delegation consists of around 100 representatives from 60 companies and organizations, with 35 British companies showcasing advanced products, technologies and solutions," Neal added.

A McLaren Artura, the British automaker's new-generation hybrid supercar, is displayed at the UK Pavilion during the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Chongqing on May 21, 2026. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Neal said 13 British companies involved in Chongqing's urban construction and infrastructure are presenting architecture and design projects at the pavilion, reflecting Chongqing's focus on green development and green infrastructure.

An agricultural robot is displayed at the UK Pavilion during the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Chongqing on May 21, 2026. (Photo/Zheng Ran)

Adams Matthew James, CEO of Chongqing Shenrendao Artificial Intelligence Technology Company Ltd., said there is strong demand for industrial applications of AI in China.

"It's very clear that there is a great hunger for industrial applications of AI," he said, adding that high-tech industries are increasingly concentrating along the Chengdu-Chongqing corridor and across western China. He said the company is hiring in China for research and development because of the local talent pool and domestic interest in industrial AI.

Following the pavilion's opening, the UK-China (Chongqing) Growth Exchange was held. More than 100 government representatives, business leaders, and guests from both sides attended the event.

Peter Burnett, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), said the Exchange came at a time of global economic and geopolitical challenges, including trade protectionism, rising oil prices, uncertainty around artificial intelligence, and the global net-zero transition.

"In my view, we can confront and surmount these challenges through three mechanisms: dialogue, collaboration and openness," Burnett said.

He said CBBC remains committed to promoting free, fair, and open bilateral trade and two-way investment. He added that UK-China government-level cooperation had deepened over the past year, including 10 bilateral agreements focused on services trade, improving conditions for UK exports to China, and encouraging two-way investment.

The UK is an important European partner for Chongqing. In 2025, bilateral imports and exports between Chongqing and the UK reached 12.99 billion yuan (about 1.91 billion U.S. dollars), up 25.7% year on year. Two-way investment had reached a cumulative total of $250 million, while direct passenger flights between Chongqing and London continued to operate.

More than 110 British companies have invested and operated in Chongqing. Chongqing-based companies, including Changan Group and CISDI Group, have also expanded into the UK market.

Local officials said they hoped the two sides would deepen practical cooperation in finance, high-end consumption, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, green and low-carbon development, education, culture, and tourism.