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INDEX

LONDON EXPERIENCE FOR BEIJING CITIZENS

Apr. 11th, 2006

London and Beijing - To collaborate is glorious! Read on.

Press Release

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, unveiled on 10th April 2006, a new exhibition for the people of Beijing.

Called the London Experience, it showcases some of London’s cultural and tourist experiences. The exhibition is located at the Millennium Monument.

The opening ceremony included an outdoor laser show and a performance of traditional Chinese and modern European dance styles.

The event staged against a London backdrop was attended by Mr Livingstone and Wang Qishan, the Mayor of Beijing.

The exhibition is located within a 60-foot (18 metre) structure and visitors start their ‘tour’ of London with seeing the site for the London 2012 Olympic games. The tour includes a simulation of the famous London Eye – using film to recreate a virtual flight.

It also highlights London’s famous shopping streets – some of the best in the world, which attract millions of tourists every year.

The exhibition will run in Beijing for three days allowing the citizens a taste of London.

Mr Livingstone said: “We hope that the London Experience will bring to life the vast array of traditional and contemporary attractions that make London such a rich cultural experience.”

The number of Chinese people visiting London has recently increased. In 2004 there were 61,000 visitors to London from China, up 42 per cent on the previous year.

The UK now has approved destination status for tourism from the Chinese government, making it easier to get a visa.

Mr Livingstone is visiting China for a week to help strengthen links with London, and to tell the Chinese people that they are welcome in the UK capital city. He will also encourage people from London to visit China.

The trip to China by Mr Livingstone will also see him:
- Open London’s Economic Development and Inward Investment Office in Beijing, and appoint a representative in Shanghai to promote London as a destination for businesspeople, tourists and students.

- Meet the committee organising the 2008 Beijing Olympics to foster relations with the London 2012 committee.

- Sign agreements with the mayors of Beijing and Shanghai to promote their cities together.

- Host events to highlight the attractions of London for tourists, students and the Chinese business community.

- Encourage Chinese companies to invest in London and list shares or securities on the London Stock Exchange, where 29 Chinese companies are already listed.

LONDON AND BEIJING MAYORS SIGN AGREEMENT TO PROMOTE CITIES

Apr. 11th, 2006

The links between the U.K. and China are growing ever stronger. Please read for the latest info.

Press Release

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, and Wang Qishan, the Mayor of Beijing, today signed an agreement in the Chinese capital to promote their cities together.

The agreement reflects the joint commitment of the two mayors to work together to encourage tourism, business links, trade links, educational exchanges and cultural relations between the two capitals that will benefit both cities.

The mayors also want to encourage cooperation ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The games will provide additional opportunities to further strengthen relations between London and China.

It was also announced that Wang Qishan would join Ken Livingstone at the meeting of the ‘four Mayors’ in January next year, which involves the Mayors of Paris, Berlin, Moscow and London.

Mr Livingstone said: “With Beijing at the heart of China, the world’s fastest growing economy and London, a world leader in financial and business services, we are confident that both our great cities can benefit from closer ties.

We hope this agreement will foster an environment in which London and Beijing can become closer business partners and develop a deeper cultural understanding through the exchange of tourists and students”.

The agreement between the two mayors will last for at least five years and means there will be regular contact between them. A full copy of the agreement is below.

The relationship between London and China is increasingly important. For example, the number of Chinese people visiting London has recently increased. In 2004 there were 61,000 visitors to London from China, up 42 per cent on the previous year.

This is because more Chinese students are studying in London, more Chinese businesses are establishing offices in London, and last year the UK was given approved destination status for tourists by the Chinese government. See notes to editors below for more details.

The signing is part of a week-long visit by Mr Livingstone to China. He wants to highlight the opportunities in London for businesses, tourists and students from China. And he wants to tell the Chinese people that they are very welcome in London.

Mr Livingstone also wants to encourage people from London to visit Beijing.

Mr Livingstone’s trip to China will also see him:

- Open London’s Economic Development and Inward Investment Office in Beijing, and appoint a representative in Shanghai to promote London as a destination for business people, tourists and students. The Beijing office will also help UK companies to invest in the Chinese city.
- Meet the committee organising the 2008 Beijing Olympics to foster relations with the London 2012 committee.
- Sign agreements between Mr Livingstone and Han Zheng, the Mayor of Shanghai, to promote their cities together.
- Host events to highlight the attractions of London for tourists, students and the Chinese business community.
- Encourage Chinese companies to invest in London and list shares or securities on the London Stock Exchange, where 29 Chinese companies are already listed.

Broader details of Mr Livingstone’s Visit

- The delegation will visit Beijing and Shanghai, starting on Sunday 9 April and finishing on Friday 14 April.
- The visit has been planned in conjunction with Think London, the inward investment agency for London, Visit London, the city’s tourism organisation, and London Higher, the umbrella organisation for London’s universities and higher education colleges.
- Meetings and events during the trip will promote London as a tourism, business and educational destination, and look for ways to promote both London and Beijing as they prepare to host Olympic Games.

The Agreement
The full text of the agreement is as follows

Agreement between
The City of Beijing of the People’s Republic of China
And the Greater London Authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Establishment of Partnership Relations

The City of Beijing of the People’s Republic of China and the Greater London Authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

Acting in accordance with the Principles of (the Joint Communiqué on) the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,

Wishing to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and British Peoples, and consolidate and develop friendly cooperation between the two cities,

Have reached agreement, through friendly consultations, on the establishment of partnership relations.

1. The two sides will carry out, in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit, exchanges and cooperation in various forms in the fields of economy, trade, science, technology, culture, education, sports, health, qualified personnel and so on, to promote common prosperity and development.

2. Regular contracts shall be maintained between the leaders and relevant departments of the two sides to facilitate consultations on the exchanges and cooperation as well as matters of common concern.

3. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signature and shall remain valid for 5 years. The Agreement would retain its force from the date of expiration, should neither side claim termination.

4. Signed on 10th April 2006, in the City of Beijing, the Agreement is done in duplicate in Chinese and English, with both texts being equally authentic.

London and China

Tourism
- Tourism from China to the UK is growing rapidly.
- In January 2005, the Chinese government gave the UK approved destination status, making it easier for Chinese citizens to get a visa.
- Tourist attractions in London including Thames river cruises and museums are increasingly offering tours in Mandarin to cater to Chinese tourists.
- Visit London, the tourism organisation for the capital, has just won the European Chinese Tourists Welcoming Award for best overall performance, reflecting its commitment to growing Chinese tourism.

Business
- London has become a gateway to Europe for Chinese businesses.
- There are now 29 Chinese companies with shares listed by the London Stock Exchange, with more planning to join them.
- London receives more direct foreign investment from China than any other European city, according to the Ernst & Young’s European Investment Monitor.
- There are approximately 400 Chinese companies investing in the UK, including 160 from Hong Kong. Many choose London to host their European headquarters.
- There are now more than 20 direct scheduled flights between mainland China and London every week.

Study in London
- There are more than 7,700 Chinese students currently studying in London, according to London Higher, the umbrella group for London’s universities and higher education colleges.
- The number of Chinese students has more than quadrupled in the last four years.
- There are more students from China in London than from any other country.
- For example, there are more than three times as many Chinese students as Irish students in London (there are 2,195 Irish students in London).

Think London is the official foreign direct investment (FDI) agency for London which provides free, confidential and comprehensive advice to help international business locate and expand in London

London Higher is the representative 'umbrella' organisation for universities and higher education colleges in London

Visit London it is the official tourist organisation for London to promote and market London to leisure and business visitors and advocate quality improvements to tourism infrastructure and services.

Film London is an organisation created to sustain, promote and develop London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital.

London 2012 is an organisation responsible for the preparation and staging of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and direct liaison with the IOC on the Games.

It's really Kite easy...

Apr. 9th, 2006

Today I fulfilled one of my boyhood dreams. I flew a kite for the first time. Special thanks to Cousin Joylyn for lending me her quality flying equipment.

It was the annual Streatham Kite flying festival held on Streatham Common and I believe it's the largest in Europe. Loads of people enjoying the day and I bumped into Cousin Joylyn whilst there. Amazing stuff.

If you haven't seen kite flying in the flesh you really should. It's Mother Nature at it's finest, simple but an uplighting experience.

Some of the professional performers displayed some breath taking stunts. Just beautiful. Chose the perfect day too, plenty of wind. A real family occasion.

Will definitely be back next year.

Great stuff!

A little about me...

Apr. 9th, 2006

OK.

A little work history.

1989. One year as a sales assistant in the former Arding and Hobbs department store in Clapham Junction. Mainly selling microwaves and large electricals e.g. washing machines and fridges.

This was mainly part time as I was studying A-Levels at the time. It was also my first job, and my first exposure to selling stuff. I was a full time student before.

I spent two years with Ryman the Stationers, from 1994 to 1996 as a sales assistant and then as an assistant supervisor.

This gave me a great grounding in selling face to face and had a great time. Have to say hi to Paul, Kay, Andy, Tracey, Jodi, Sanya and of course Enda.

This was followed by a brief stint as a cleaner at the BBC Offices at Kingswood which was a great experience with a great team before landing my dream job at Forbidden Planet in Croydon.

This was a shop I used to shop at anyway to get my comics fix so it was a joy to work there. Met many good people there and will always be a special memory. Especially the box breaking every Thursday after deliveries!

This was from 1997 to mid 1998 before moving to pastures new, to the Government!

And I'm still here, working for the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA). My longest ever job! In 2004 I went on a career break to teach English in China, before returning to part-time work for a year and a bit.

During this time I studied business which I still do, looking to implement the knowledge learnt throughout Growlersworld.com.

Last week I returned to full time. It's a great bunch of people here that are almost like family. A real pleasure to be part of the team. It's also a source of working capital for Growlersworld.com

I have to say the last two years have been some of my most productive.

Still working part time for Chinatown magazine as a film correspondent and it's London representative and also developing and growing my own website Growlersworld.com.

The comic book reading entrepreneur continues!

Stay tuned!

Comic Book Snippets...

Apr. 9th, 2006

Chris Claremont, X-Men writer extraordinaire and Marvel Legend, was diagnosed with exhaustion and caridac stress recently. Wishing him and his family well at this time while he takes time to recover.

For those who don't know, the characters of the X-Men you see in the movies were adapted from Claremont's work and a lot of his storylines have been incorporated into the mix.

Look out for the upcoming X-Men 3 movie to feature elements of Claremont's classic Dark Phoenix story.

He breathed life into Wolverine and Storm helping to make them the pivotal, popular characters they are today. He's easily one of my favourite comic book writers.

Mark Millar gave a lengthy press conference on Marvel Comics latest epic storyline, Civil War.

This pits the heroes of the Marvel Universe against each other when a government mandate against secret identities and urging all superheroes to register with the government is proposed.

The seven part event will be drawn by Steve McNiven.

The tagline is "Whose side are you on?"

Quite simply, this will be huge.

This is the Marvel event that you don't want to miss.

Beyond is a new mini-series coming soon by Dwayne McDuffie and drawn by Scott Kolins.

It looks good, and is a nod to the classic, original Secret Wars story.

And just have to mention that Annihilation, Marvel's stunning cosmic event has just begun. Featuring the like of the Silver Surfer, Nova, the Super Skrull, Ronan the Accuser in four-issue mini series and loads more.

Always loved cosmic Marvel but have been underwhelmed of late. This looks like a return to glory. Masterminded by Keith Giffen and it will have Andrea DiVito illustrating the six part finale.

New to comic books?

Read my introductions here;

http://www.growlersworld.com/growleroncomicbooks.htm

A little Growlersworld history...

Apr. 8th, 2006

Growlersworld.com has been around since 29th July 2003.

It started life as Austin25.freeserve.co.uk.

Then morphed into Growlersworld.wanadoo.co.uk, before finally taking the plunge and transforming into the website you know and love.

Developed purely by trial and error with my bare hands this is a labour of love.

Have a look at the raw, early days, courtesy of Alexa.com, and watch a creative mind at work. I was on a learning curve and am still climbing;

http://web.archive.org/web/20040604142338/http://www.growlersworld.com/

http://web.archive.org/web/20040924201210/http://www.growlersworld.com/