The First Minister opens the new Whisky Experience Centre at the Single Malt Club in Beijing.


Overall, a total of at least 50 Scotish businesses are said to have benefited from the visit which included talks between the First Minister and State Councillor Yang Jie Chi, who holds China’s most senior foreign affairs role. Ms Sturgeon also met with the State Culture Department, leading to a renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding, first signed in 2011, which commits Scotland and China to further collaboration in the arts and creative industries.


Ms Sturgeon also held high level talks with senior representatives from Sinopec, PetroChina and CNOOC, three of the world’s largest oil and gas companies and large investors in Scotland’s offshore industry to discuss Scotish innovation in the sector.


While in Hong Kong, the First Minister hosted a reception to champion Scotish fashion designers, and promote the textiles


42 September 2015


industry which employs 8,500 people and has a turnover of £835 million per year.


Throughout China Scotland’s expertise in textiles is increasingly in demand, as demonstrated by Angus-based firm J&D Wilkie.


The company, which began producing jute and flax in Scotland in 1868, has almost doubled production since it established operations in China eight years ago. It is


First Minister addresses an audience of senior government women at the Chinese Friendship Association.


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