I hope to see trade and investment between the UK and Chongqing continue to grow. I look forward to welcoming more British businesses to this great city while supporting more Chongqing companies as they expand into the UK market.
Anthony Preston
British Consul General in Chongqing
From May 21 to 24, 2026, the United Kingdom served as Guest Country of Honor at the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT). Through a diverse programme of exhibitions, business forums and matchmaking events, it created an efficient platform for British and Chinese companies to connect and explore new opportunities. Anthony Preston (Li Yao), British Consul General in Chongqing, said he looks forward to using the WCIFIT platform to further deepen practical cooperation between British and Chongqing enterprises. Recently, Consul General Preston sat down for an exclusive interview with CHONGQING CURRENTS.
Anthony Preston (Li Yao)
joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in 2002 and took up his post as British Consul General in Chongqing in August 2023.
Preston on the Breadth and Depth of the UK-Chongqing Partnership
CHONGQING CURRENTS: You took up your post as British Consul General in Chongqing in August 2023, and you have now been here for nearly three years. What impression has Chongqing left on you? How would you describe the city and your experience here?
Anthony Preston: It is a great honour to serve in Chongqing.
Since arriving in Chongqing, what has struck me most is the sheer breadth and depth of the connections between the UK and the city. If you look at Chongqing as a complete urban landscape, it quickly becomes clear how deeply British elements have been woven into its development story: from landmark public buildings shaped by international design thinking, to critical infrastructure supported by British expertise and experience, through to touches of British design that have become part of the city's everyday character. These are no longer isolated contributions; they have become an integral part of Chongqing's urban development.
For the many local and expatriate residents who have made Chongqing their home, the presence of British brands and professional services has become part of everyday life. Nowhere is this more evident than in internationally recognised education and healthcare, from British curriculum schools that give families greater choice to medical partnerships shaped by international best practice.
I take great satisfaction in the practical, dynamic partnership that the UK and Chongqing have built together. My commitment is twofold: to continue expanding the presence of British industries and expertise in Chongqing, while helping Chongqing's competitive industries and distinctive strengths gain a stronger foothold in the UK market. This two-way partnership delivers tangible results and continues to create new opportunities for cooperation.
Sustaining Regular People-to-People Ties
CHONGQING CURRENTS: Looking ahead to the next chapter of UK-Chongqing relations, people-to-people and cultural exchange has always been an important part of the partnership. What new initiatives are you and your team planning to further strengthen these connections?
Anthony Preston: One of our core objectives is to continue deepening cultural exchange and two-way engagement between the UK and Chongqing, and ultimately to strengthen the people-to-people ties and mutual understanding between our two communities.
I have said on a number of formal occasions that, even during the most challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the connection between the UK and Chongqing never disappeared. However, while the bridge remained in place, opportunities for two-way exchange were inevitably limited. Physical separation meant we were simply unable to achieve the level and frequency of interaction that both sides would have liked.
That is the starting point for our work today. The British Consulate General in Chongqing continues to work closely with partners across the city, and one of our key priorities is to create more opportunities for people to meet and engage with one another. Through a wider range of exchange activities, we hope to strengthen mutual understanding, build lasting trust through regular people-to-people interaction, and create new opportunities for practical cooperation.
The foundations are already strong. A significant number of Chongqing students have studied and lived in the UK, and many regard it as a second home. At the same time, a growing number of British cultural and arts organisations see Chongqing as an important gateway to Southwest China and have delivered a range of high-quality cultural programmes here. Even so, there is still considerable potential to unlock. I look forward to working more closely with our local partners to take UK-Chongqing cultural and people-to-people ties to the next level.
According to Chongqing Customs, trade between Chongqing and the UK reached CNY 12.99 billion in 2025, an increase of 25.7% year on year.
According to Chongqing Customs, trade between Chongqing and the UK reached CNY 2.96 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 12.4% year on year.
More than 110 British companies have invested in and operate in Chongqing. The city is also home to two UK-China joint education institutions and seven Sino-British cooperative undergraduate and master's degree programmes.
Text and interview by Zeng Rui and Wang Jingjing
Image Courtesy of the British Consulate-General in Chongqing and the VJshi (Guangchang) Platform