The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) outlined by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2013 is one of the most significant and substantial investment and development programmes to come out of China in modern times.

This year marks the 3rd year of the Belt and Road Initiative Conference organised by the Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh. Hosted by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson of the University of Edinburgh, the conference will be a great opportunity to hear a range of international insights into the Belt & Road Initiative. Below is a draft programme.

Thursday, 3rd October 2019 – McEwan Hall, Edinburgh
Welcome Addresses and Conference Introduction
Principal & Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson, University of Edinburgh
Minister Counsellor, Mr. Wang Yongli, Education Section, Chinese Embassy in London
Councillor Frank Ross, Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh
President Isaac Kosgey, Moi University, Kenya
Executive Vice Dean Huang Renwei, Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, Fudan University

Keynotes I
Chair: James Smith, Vice Principal, International, Edinburgh University
Sir Douglas Flint CBE, Chairman of Standard Life Aberdeen
Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO, Chair-Elect of the China Britain Business Council, HSBC, Group Head of Public Affairs

Keynote Lecture
Henry Tillman, Founder and Chairman, China Investment Research

Parallel Panel Sessions I
Room 1: Global Governance (I)
Chair: Robin Williams, Director of ISSTI, University of Edinburgh

Room 2: Finance and Environment
Chair: Andrew Lang, Chair of International Law and Global Governance, University of Edinburgh

Room 3: China and Africa (I)
Chair: Isaac Kosgey, President, Moi University, Kenya

Room 4: BRI Student & Pupils Forum
Henry Tillman, Founder and Chairman, China Investment Research



Parallel Panel Sessions II
Room 1: Global Governance (II)
Chair: Huang Renwei, Executive Vice Dean, Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, Fudan University

Room 2: Law and Communication
Chair: James Brodie, Director, CBBC Scotland

Room 3: Data and Connectivity
Chair: Chen Liming, Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh and Chairman of IBM Greater China Group

Room 4: Global Textile Trade
Chair: Natascha Gentz, Assistant Principal China, University of Edinburgh

Room 5: China and Africa (II)
Chair: tbc

“Memory on Fabric” Exhibition & Reception
Friday, 4th October 2019 – Playfair Library, Edinburgh

Keynotes II
Chen Liming, Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh and Chairman of IBM Greater China Group
Katie Westgarth, Director of Ensis Strategic Ltd

Keynotes III
Fang Wenjian, General Manager of Bank of China London Branch (tbc)
President Isaac Kosgey, Moi University, Kenya

Closing Remarks (tbc)
Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh
Peter Budd, Director, Arup

We warmly welcome you to join us at this high-level international conference. The event is free, but please register at https://edin.ac/2ZP36Ob to secure your place or visit the conference website at www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk/bri/ for more information.

* In order to facilitate our online bookings, we use Eventbrite, which is a third party service not operated by the University of Edinburgh. Details of Eventbrite’s privacy policy can be found at: Eventbrite Booking Privacy Policy