The office was opened this week– marking the launch of the Guernsey brand in China – by Guernsey’s most senior politician, Chief Minister Mike Torode, who is in Shanghai as part of a delegation including other senior government officials and business leaders from the Island.

The Chief Minister gave the 55 invited guests of senior Shanghai professionals an overview of the Island, including its geographical location, unique history, relationships with the UK and EU and good financial services reputation.

“We are committed over time to forging stronger links between our two countries so that we can understand each other better and what each other of us has to offer,” he explained, continuing:

“We see our launch this week and, in particular, our appointment of Wendy Weng as our full time representative in Shanghai as the first but most vital part of this process. Our aim is to introduce ourselves and to start to build long term relationships through understanding and trust."

“Let me stress now that we are here for the long term. Guernsey is here, in person, through Wendy Weng showing that commitment to Shanghai will ensure that our message comes across regularly and consistently and, more importantly, that there is a link here that the financial services industry in Shanghai can talk with to ensure easy and speedy access to our Guernsey business base."

“We are looking to ensure that the deeper roots we put down today will ensure a strong and viable future not only for our relationship and friendship but also for business flows between our two countries.”

Guernsey’s delegation party included, as well as the Chief Minister: a dozen leading members from across the Island’s finance industry; Mike Brown, Chief Executive of the States of Guernsey – the Island’s top civil servant; two representatives of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) – Peter Moffatt, Director of Investment Business and Michael Graham, Deputy Director of Insurance; and members of GuernseyFinance – the promotional agency for the Island’s finance industry – including Peter Niven, Chief Executive.

At the opening, Mr Niven explained to the audience that:

“Wendy is Guernsey’s permanent representative in Shanghai and particularly to the financial services industry here in Shanghai and more broadly in China. We look forward to working through her and with her to increase our contacts here in Shanghai and forge strong and permanent relationships with the financial community here and achieve a recognition for Guernsey and particularly for the financial community in Guernsey."

“The strength of that relationship will be our first priority and we look forward to working with you all over the coming months and years.”

The delegation team was scheduled throughout the week to meet with representatives from the British Consulate, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the Bank of China and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Guernsey Finance has also launched a Chinese version of its website.