John Edwards, the UK trade commissioner for China, praised Chongqing over its rise as a burgeoning center in intelligent manufacturing, in remarks made in an exclusive interview with iChongqing after the opening ceremony of the UK pavilion at the 2021 Smart China Expo exhibition hall.

This year, the UK, representing the largest delegation, exceeded previous records in bringing to the event nearly 50 companies including Thoughtworks and Lucton School. Edwards introduced the four areas of the British pavilion, and emphasized they will focus on the technology that empowers manufacturing, which is also an important sector for the SCE.

"The ambition that we see within Chongqing to digitalize is manufacturing," said Edwards. "But more than that, I think that now what really excites is the opportunity to work with Chinese companies and British companies together to face some of the big challenges that we face in the world. So I think it is a real opportunity for China and the UK to work for good in certain areas globally using technology."

After the pavilion's grand opening, the UK will hold forums and a pitching event for companies to communicate and collaborate.

Besides, Edwards is also expecting to work hand in hand with China on global challenges for the following UN meetings: The Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference.