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The Rt Hon John Prescott MP, who as Deputy Prime Minister played a major role in the forging of closer relations between the UK and China, is to become the new Honorary Patron of the China Policy Institute at The University of Nottingham.
Mr Prescott will be officially inaugurated into his new role when he visits Nottingham on Tuesday March 30 to talk on China and Climate Change as part of the University’s Energy and Climate Change Special Lecture Series.
Richard Pascoe, Director of the China Policy Institute in the University’s School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, said: “We are delighted that John has agreed to become our new Honorary Patron.
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“The institute’s goal is to help build a more informed dialogue between China and the rest of the world, which mirrors John’s own long-standing commitment to fostering mutual understanding between our two nations.”
John Prescott co-chaired the UK-China Task Force, together with Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan — created in November 2003 by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Tony Blair to deepen relations and further cooperation between China the UK — until he stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister in June 2007.
Since then he has continued to take an active interest in China and China-UK relations and visits China several times a year. As Leader of the British Delegation to the Council of Europe, he has played an important role in climate change policies and the post-Kyoto agenda. He was appointed as the Council of Europe’s rapporteur on climate change in advance of the Copenhagen summit on climate change in December 2009, and in January 2010 was named vice-president of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.
His relationship with The University of Nottingham began when it became the first foreign higher education institution in the world to establish a university within The People’s Republic and he travelled to China to preside over the opening ceremony of its Ningbo campus in February 2006.
Last June, he spoke at the opening of a conference at the House of Commons offices in Westminster on The Global Financial Crisis, Economic Recession and the Rise of Chinese Power, organised by the China Policy Institute on behalf of the All-Part Parliamentary China Group.
The China Policy Institute, based within The University of Nottingham’s School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, is a think tank set up to expand the knowledge and understanding of contemporary China in the UK, Europe and worldwide and to analyse its global impact and the critical challenges it faces in its rapid development.
The institute works with research centres in China and around the world to produce quality analysis on contemporary China on a broad range of topics in the fields of international relations, economics, business, politics, the environment and society.
It provides consultancy services on a selective basis, working with governments, companies and organisations worldwide seeking input to their China strategies and business plans.
The CPI concentrates its research on seven key areas: China’s economic transformation and global impact; the impact of China’s rise on its international relations; Chinese politics and civil society; the development of Chinese enterprises; sustainable development; Chinese migration; and the impact of ICT on Chinese politics, society and culture.
The institute also publishes informal brief commentaries on current issues and news by researchers through an online blog, aimed at stimulating discussion on critical policy issues and members of the institute are regularly approached by the national and international media for insightful expert comment.
More details about the China Policy Institute at The University of Nottingham can be found online at www.nottingham.ac.uk/CPI
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Notes to editors:
The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to RAE 2008, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranks the University 7th in the UK by research power. In 27 subject areas, the University features in the UK Top Ten, with 14 of those in the Top Five.
The University provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's “only truly global university”, it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation — School of Pharmacy), and was named ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence. The University of Nottingham is a partner in Nottingham: the Science City.