During the fair themed "Britain and Anhui -- Partners for the Future", Sizeland said Britain has established more than 2,800 enterprises either solely or as joint ventures in China and more than 500 of them are in Shanghai.

The two-day fair sponsored by the British Consulate in Shanghaiand the Anhui foreign economic and trade cooperation office attracted more than 10 British-funded enterprises and leading local businesses.

Sizeland named a few of the successful companies as including Shell, Uniliver, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and Standard Chartered.

He said 15 years ago, few Britons knew about Shanghai, but now things are quite different and inland Chinese cities will become as known to the outside world as Shanghai.

The 51-year-old consul-general said both peoples need more opportunities for communication so as to promote bilateral economic relations.

Sizeland said the move of Unilever's headquarters from Shanghaito Anhui demonstrated British enterprises' confidence in the inland regions, which have the advantages of lower cost and improved investment environment.

He said he believed China's GDP would maintain its speed, which would provide enormous opportunities for British business.

He said the new Chinese government was confident in its economic prospects and that confidence would be vital to boost foreign investors' confidence.

There are 42 British-funded enterprises in Anhui, using nearly 100 million dollars in investment. Trade between Britain and Anhui rose to 60 million dollars in 2002.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)