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Cheers to 110 Years: The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Toasts a Century of Connection in Shanghai

The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (BritCham), the oldest foreign chamber on the Chinese mainland, celebrated its 110th anniversary this week with a festive gathering. Held at the iconic Peace Hotel on the Bund, itself a cherished historic landmark in the city, the grand evening showcased the organization's remarkable longevity in the city in bridging business and trade, culture, and community between the United Kingdom (UK) and China. In attendance were an amiable crowd of business leaders, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and other long-time supporters of the chamber.

Since it's inception more than a century ago, the chamber has stood the test of time and has evolved from a trade-focused association to a platform for corporate partnership and cultural exchange. Rebranded in 2021, BritCham stands as a living testament to the longevity of British business and cross-cultural relationships in China's most dynamic city.

Set in the style of the chamber's original 1915 Club Dinner, the evening included the traditional BritCham rotating dinner tables that allowed attendees more opportunities for interaction and wider connection. Amazingly, Swire and HSBC, two of the founding corporate members of BritCham, were active members in attendance. Apart from celebrating a milestone and looking back at more than a century of success, the event also kicks off BritCham's yearlong 110th anniversary celebrations.

Continue below for comments from some of the attendees and business leaders, and check out the gallery of those who attended the event.

Stuart Dunn, Executive Director the British Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai

The British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai is the oldest business chamber in Shanghai. It is also the largest British Chamber in China. Its scope covers the East China region, which includes 85% of all the British companies operating in the country.

"This was the anniversary of our very first chamber meeting. We are a non-political, professional business organization. Our focus is on connecting people. Our team is constantly listening to understand what the needs of our members are. The events and activities are all designed to bring different interests together and to offer knowledge and insight. It's a place for conversation, learning, sharing, and discussion," Stuart explained.

Stuart moved to Shanghai 15 years ago, shortly before the World Expo, to take on the role of Assistant Director for F&B at the well-known Shangri-La Hotel in Pudong.

With his knowledge in the hospitality industry, he co-founded the Taphouse, a popular Shanghai bar. After years in the Hospitality industry, he was appointed Head of Agriculture, Food & Drink and Investment at the British Department for International Trade, before accepting his current role.

In answer to why he loved living and working in Shanghai, he said, "Shanghai is such an exciting, dynamic city. It's like a country in its own right, because of all the diversity here. China is the fastest-growing economy in the world. One can get a good indication of the pulse of world business here. The top senior leaders in the world are based here. It's at the forefront of future technology. Leaders come here to understand where the world is going."

Kirsten Johnston, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and Founder and CEO of J.W.D.K., a branding agency.

BritCham's Chair, Kirsten Johnston, brought a blend of insight and warmth to the evening celebration. "The history of the chamber goes back to 1915. What is obvious back then and in recent times is the amount of resilience our members have shown in the face of challenging times. This is where the chamber community is at its strongest, because we need each other," Johnston said.

Apart from Shanghai, the chamber operates across the East China region, serving as a platform for its members to engage at various levels. "Just like Shanghai always reinvents itself, our community is constantly evolving. It is the people who keep BritCham growing. Like Shanghai, it changes and fluctuates with the times," she added.

"For us, the chamber's purpose is really to connect people. Individual to individual, business to business, government to government, that is how we get the dialogue going, and how trade happens," she explained. A non-political organization, BritCham is funded only by its more than 270 members. It supports bilateral and local government relationships and partners with various UK business organizations, such as the UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT), the China-Britian Business Council (CBBC), and the British Council.

Johnson herself has left her mark on the city. Her own agency focuses on the place branding of heritage destinations in Shanghai, and has rebranded places such as the Rockbund and Columbia Circle. She credits the chamber with helping her navigate China's complex business landscape. "Being part of this chamber community gives us access to the right information and right people at the right levels," she shared. She and her team were responsible for the bold rebranding of the BritCham logo in 2021. This includes three pillars that speak to the chamber's purpose – knowledge, advocacy, and community. "We are British, but our members include all those who are aligned with our British values. It is a shared purpose, about building something meaningful together."

George Bian, Historian

What would a 110-year anniversary be without a look back at the past. Well-known historian George Bian added a historical perspective to the evening's celebrations, with an engaging presentation titled "The Historic Evolution of the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai from 1847 to 1949." Now take a breath and read further.

Bian, who professes a passion for the city's past, is an expert on Shanghai's settlement-era history (1840s–1940s), serves as an advisor to a leading inbound travel agency, and curates VIP Shanghai historic walking tours. "The roots of the British Chamber run deeper than many might realize." According to Bian, the first foreign chamber of Commerce, a forerunner of today's chamber, was founded in June 1847 by the manager of Jardine and several British merchants. Jardine is still a member of the current chamber today.

According to Bian, this early chamber had a significant influence, representing the British Empire in the Far East and serving as a powerful advocate for British commercial interests. Interestingly, the old chamber buildings once had a language school attached where members and their children were taught Mandarin. This was to accelerate their integration into Shanghai.

Ironically, it also lobbied the Imperial Chinese government on tariffs and trade policy. He further noted that Shanghai has always been the headquarters for British commercial activity in China. "At its peak, British investment in Shanghai made up about 80% of all British investment in China. Today, it's still around 70%," he noted. "While Shanghai keeps evolving, it will always be a center for global commerce."

Shane Sang, Tax Partner at PwC

"We've always seen the chamber as more than just a business platform," said Shane Sang, representing PwC, the title sponsor of the event. "It's a space for cultivating connections and friendships. We leverage the chamber to meet professionals doing interesting things. The purpose of the chamber is to provide community and be an advocacy leader to ensure that government policy is beneficial for investors on both sides."

A tax partner at PwC, who specializes in M&A consulting services for both UK and Chinese investors, Sang highlighted his company's alignment with the chamber's mission to foster community and cross-border collaboration. As the elected Chair of the chamber's newly established Zhejiang Committee, he leads efforts to facilitate UK investment in Zhejiang Province. He emphasized that the Shanghai chamber is very active, and pointed to an international AI roundtable hosted by the chamber the very next day.

Reflecting on Shanghai's appeal, Sang added that the longevity of the chamber can be attributed to Shanghai being such a dynamic city that offers so many opportunities to foreign investors. "This is not only because of the pro-business policies of a supportive central city government, but because of its people. It is a city of immigrants that all share an entrepreneurial mindset. We all come from different places, but we choose to settle in Shanghai because it's vibrant, entrepreneurial, and always evolving."

Betty Barr, Author & Long-time Shanghai Resident

Among the evening's standout moments was the talk by Shanghai icon Betty Barr and her husband George, who brought both history and love for the city to the celebration. The couple delighted guests with their stories and recollections, including her two memorable meetings with Queen Elizabeth II. A teacher in the city for more than 40 years, Betty remembers the British community being a big part of Shanghai while she was growing up. "Shanghai has changed a great deal, of course," she said, "but it will always be home."

And now... the See & Be Seen Gallery for BritCham's 110th Anniversary Gala

Interested in joining BritCham?

Here for more info: http://britishchambershanghai.cn

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