5m – Changchun metropolitan area has 9m residents.
Location:
Jiln Province, China
Industry:
Manufacturing
Background:
Birmingham and Changchun became sister cities in 2013, 30 years after they began working together. A manufacturing delegation visited Birmingham which resulted in successful commercial deals being signed.
About Changchun
It is the capital city of the Jilin Province in China, located in the northeast.
Jilin’s GDP has grown by 6.5% year on year, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national average, ranking first in the country.
Changchun is locally known as China’s “City of Automobiles”. Birmingham has an established formal cooperation with the automotive industry in the region.
More recent activity includes:
China-UK Regional Leaders Summit – Changchun was invited to participate in the 5th China-UK regional leaders Summit in 2019.
November 2012 – a high-profile visit from Birmingham to Changchun to discuss inward Research and Development and inward investment.
2011 – senior executives from the auto industry travelled to Birmingham with former Premier Wen Jiabao.
Significantly, a large automotive supplier in Changchun has made a substantial investment in a Birmingham auto supplier and plant in East Birmingham.
latest activity and Current Projects:
Key initiatives:
Young Women Into Leadership (You WIL) Summit – You WIL is BCC initiative and an empowering programme for the future generations of young women, aspiring to be the leaders of tomorrow. Supported by the US Embassy, London and Aston University, the programme invites like-minded young females aged 14-16 years from Birmingham and partner cities around the world to come together every day in an interactive two-hour online session over 6 days.
During the programme, girls listen to presentations from inspirational female leaders from the world of Politics and Public Service, Business, Sport, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and Culture.
Girls are also mentored to develop their own presentation which is presented to the US Embassy in London. All participants receive a certificate recognising their participation and contribution.
