The “Chinese Dream – People’s Dream” is a vision of the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Living Chinese dream starts from prosperity of Chinese livelihood. In the light of Chinese livelihood facing global challenges, especially relating to everyday food safety, energy shortage and environment pollution, Live Our Dreams aims to best use of our strategic location being in London – the heart of global shipping and financial centre, and through our partner organisations in shipping business, to serve the needs of Chinese livelihood, primarily with imports and exports of grain, fertilizer and coal.
Grain
With 1.4 billion populations, China is a net grain importer. In the first 11 months of 2012, China imported nearly 10.8 million tons of wheat, corn and rice, up nearly 295% from a year earlier. Soybeans are China’s largest agricultural import. In 2011, the US exported 60% of its soybeans to China. The US is also the dominant supplier of corn to China, provided almost all China’s 5 million tons corn imports in 2011.
According to USDA, 93% of soybean and 88% corn grown in the US are genetically modified. Although there is a broad scientific consensus on GM crops posing no greater risk to human health than conventional food, Europe largely bans genetically engineered foods. The US and Canadian also have instituted labelling requirements for GE foods. China remains “very concerned” about the safety of GM food, its green light to GM soybean imports stirred up another controversy recently. An online survey conducted in China showed 78% of all respondents thought GM food could have negative impacts on people’s health, and a further 85% of respondents said they would not consider buying GM products.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said at a State Council meeting in Beijing, “Food is essential, and safety should be a top priority. Food safety is closely related to people’s lives and health and economic development and social harmony”. While food safety is a growing concern of China itself, with controversial concerns over GM foods, we aim to help China sourcing conventional non-genetically modified agricultural goods.
Fertilizer
To increase crop yields, fertilizers are needed, which have direct impact on grain production and farmers’ income. Using fertilizers can double or even triple crop yields. According to UN trials in 40 countries over 25 years the average increase resulting from the best fertilizer treatment for wheat was about 60%.
The fertilizer use has been growing faster worldwide. China, as the world’s No.1 fertilizer producer, is the No.1 urea exporter, and one of the largest phosphorus ore exporters. However, China imports potash heavily, and is the largest potash importer as well as the largest sulphur importer. In light of strategic importance of fertilizer application, we aim to collaborate with China agricultural industry, based on the characteristics of Chinese soils, help Chinese farmers to source most suitable and best fertilizer treatment for the maximum possible crop yields.
Coal
Asia coal demand, dominated by China, has increased over 400% since 1980. China consumes nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined. China’s coal use grew by 325 million tons in 2011, accounting for 87% of the 374 million ton global increase in coal use.
With limited energy resources and fast growing industrialisation, China becomes the largest coal importer. China’s January coal imports rose 56% in 2013, and total coal imports are expected to rise to nearly 400 million tonnes by 2015, around 70% higher than the current level. In the meanwhile, mining safety becomes a major concern in China with government announced to close about 5,000 mines in 2013 for safety concerns.
London, as the heart of global shipping and financial services centre, offer best marine insurance, ship-broking, ship finance, and maritime law. With the wealth of expertise and business connections of our shipping business partners, we aim to serve as a part of Chinese trading bloc to improve Chinese livelihood through channeling international maritime business.
Check it out below for other UK-China business activities that we engage in as well as what else we do.
Live Our Dreams is an alliance of people, who believe in the beauty of their dreams. It is created to serve and help young people, primarily in the UK and China, to pursue their passion and live their dreams at each step of their life journey, through Education, Training, Exchange and Business programmes and activities. 