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Written Question
Invest NI: China Chamber of Commerce in the UK
Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with Invest Northern Ireland on its Strategic Cooperation Framework Memorandum of Understanding with the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government supports UK businesses to do business with China – while being open-eyed to any risks.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 02 Dec 2025
Oral Answers to Questions

"In an earlier answer, the Foreign Secretary said that trade relations between China and the UK were “in our national interest”. To that extent, can I ask what conversations her Department had with Invest Northern Ireland prior to its signing a co-operation framework memorandum of understanding with the China Chamber …..."
Robin Swann - View Speech

View all Robin Swann (UUP - South Antrim) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
China: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 2nd July 2025

Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral statement of 24 June 2025, Official Report, column 989, on China Audit, which (a) Northern Ireland Executive departments, (b) arms' length bodies in Northern Ireland and (c) Universities in Northern Ireland made a submission to that audit.

Answered by Catherine West

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office China Audit team proactively engaged a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the full range of interests arising from the UK's relationship with China was represented; this included Parliament, business, the academic sector, civil society and the devolved governments.

Written Question
Northern Ireland Executive: Foreign Relations
Tuesday 25th February 2025

Asked by: Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist Party - South Antrim)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the development of its international relations strategy.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has held official-level discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on their proposal to develop an international relations strategy. We look forward to continuing that engagement with the NIE in due course as its Strategy is further developed.