In 2012 the Manchester China Forum was founded with the over-arching goal of increasing Manchester’s business, academic and cultural connectivity with China with a view to increasing trade and investment flows and visitor numbers. Founding private-sector members of the Forum’s Board include Deloitte, Manchester Airport Group, BT, Bruntwood, PGT Holroyd Ltd and Peel, supported by a solid alliance of Greater Manchester institutions, including the Local Enterprise Partnership, the Combined Authority, MIDAS, New Economy and Marketing Manchester. Deloitte was appointed by the Forum to engage with senior business, civic and academic stakeholders and to critically examine existing China-related activities to identify additional strategic goals and high-impact initiatives, the findings of which were incorporated into a ‘Big Ticket’ report.

The report by Deloitte was published at the same time as the Manchester-China Forum’s launch on 26 April 2013 in Manchester, attended by Executive representatives of the private sector, politicians and civic dignitaries. The Forum was then launched in the House of Lords on 19 June 2013 hosted by Lord Risby alongside Charlie Cornish, CEO of Manchester Airports Group and Chair of the Manchester China Forum, and Lord Nat Wei, Non-Executive Director of the Forum. The Forum is planning another high profile launch in China in October 2013. These events mark a significant milestone in Greater Manchester’s internationalisation efforts, with China widely regarded to be the long-term priority market for increasing trade and inward investment.