"Two days spent visiting five cities in China – a packed schedule." Earlier this year, Neil Brigdon, Director of Foreign Direct Investment at London Development Agency, told CBN reporters in Shanghai that despite a competitive world, London's message remains clear: "Openness and a welcome to investment from China and around the world." At the inaugural Overseas Investment and Integrated Services Conference 2026, Brigdon reiterated that London is a leading investment destination in Europe, second only to Singapore globally in terms of attracting international corporate investment.
I. Chinese Investment Accelerates in London, Investment Models Undergo Profound Shifts
While the United States remains London's largest source of foreign investment, Brigdon observed that Chinese investment in London is rapidly catching up with that of the US. "London is becoming the European city with the largest concentration of Chinese companies, investors, students, and tourists." Over the past six years, London Development Agency has supported 119 Chinese companies in developing operations in London, covering multiple high-growth sectors including creative technology, enterprise technology, green innovation, fintech and cybersecurity, and life sciences.
Chinese companies' investment models are undergoing a profound evolution: from early real estate development to the establishment of financial services by large Chinese banks (currently, the number of Chinese banks in London far exceeds that of other European cities), and then to tech giants like Tencent, Alibaba, and JD.com viewing London as a gateway to the global market. Now, many high-growth tech startups are also using London as a springboard to enter the global market. "Chinese companies that have successfully established themselves in London are those willing to spend time researching and understanding the market, partnering with suitable organizations, and building local teams—this mutual understanding is crucial."
BYD is a prime example of this transformation. In the first four months of 2026, BYD sold 12,754 pure electric vehicles in the UK, capturing over 7% of the market share and ranking first in pure electric vehicle sales in the UK; its overall new car sales reached 26,396 units, a year-on-year increase of 124%. In the public transport sector, BYD partnered with British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis to deliver 22 pure electric buses to London's Line 214, officially launching its 10.2-meter single-decker buses in the London market. From serving the London Olympics to becoming a leading brand in the UK electric vehicle market, BYD exemplifies the path Chinese companies can take to upgrade their brands through localization and deep integration.
II. Three Overlapping Development Blueprints Depict a "Golden Line" for Sino-British Cooperation
Sino-British cooperation is entering a period of strategic opportunity, rooted in the deep alignment of three major plans. In June 2025, the UK government released the *Modern Industries Strategy*, clearly focusing on eight high-growth sectors: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology, financial services, life sciences, and creative industries. Simultaneously, the London government released the *London Growth Plan*, aiming to restore London's average annual productivity growth to 2% within ten years, expand the economy by £107 billion by 2035, and create over 150,000 quality jobs by 2028.
"These plans are highly consistent in direction with China's latest five-year plan," Brigdon pointed out. The three blueprints jointly focus on cutting-edge innovation (fintech and creative industries), vigorously developing hard technologies represented by artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and intelligent robots, while maintaining a strategic focus on life sciences and the green economy. In the field of AI, Brigdon stated that London is actively participating in this city-level global leadership race, possessing "all the elements needed from academia to deep growth, from capital to talent," but "the key is to integrate teams into the London community to achieve co-creation of AI."
Regarding green transformation, London is committed to achieving decarbonization and net-zero targets over the next 20 years. "Energy-efficient buildings, environmentally friendly transportation, and smart grids all present huge business opportunities. The arrival of Chinese electric vehicles is helping London achieve this goal," he said, adding that the same applies to battery technology and the solar energy industry.
III. Connectivity between Chinese and British Capital Markets, Building Institutional Channels
Sino-British financial cooperation has entered a new stage of institutionalization. According to the outcomes of the 11th Sino-British Economic and Financial Dialogue, six Chinese companies have successfully issued Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) on the London Stock Exchange through the "Sino-British Connect," raising a total of over US$6.6 billion. China encourages eligible listed companies to continue raising funds in London through this channel, expanding investable targets for long-term capital global allocation.
Talent exchange and industrial interaction are heating up simultaneously. In October 2025, London Development Agency CEO, Sitren, stated explicitly, "We are fully supporting Chinese technology companies to use London as a gateway to the European market." In June 2026, London's Creative Industries Week, Technology Week, and Climate Week will take place, while Life Sciences Week is scheduled to open in November. "Chinese companies are long-time friends of these events," said Brigden, who hopes Chinese investors will experience London's vibrant industrial atmosphere firsthand, and that London businesses will have direct access to innovative achievements and cooperation opportunities from China.
As Brigden noted, "Over the past decade, London's technology ecosystem has grown tenfold, from approximately $70 billion to nearly $700 billion. During this period, London has consistently responded positively to investment from China." China's 15th Five-Year Plan, the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, and the London Growth Plan are forging a "golden thread" of Sino-British cooperation, enabling both sides to achieve win-win results in jointly addressing global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and even aging populations.
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