UK plaque unveiled honouring the Chinese Labour Corps
On 11 December Qingdao in Shandong Province will open its first museum dedicated solely to the First World War.
UK plaque unveiled honouring the Chinese Labour Corps
The Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy in Beijing, Christina Scott, will donate a plaque honouring the contribution of the Chinese Labour Corps during the First World War.
Around 100,000 Chinese labourers travelled from China to support the Allied Forces in France from 1914 onwards. The labourers came from across China and a significant proportion came from Shandong. Throughout the war these labourers supported the UK and Allies by digging trenches and clearing casualties and the wounded away from the battlefields. Their work made an important contribution to the success of the Allied Forces on the Western Front.
The Chargé d’Affaires Christina Scott said:
I am honoured to be in Qingdao unveiling this special commemorative plaque. We are grateful to the brave Chinese labourers who played a vital role while working in dangerous conditions. This plaque provides a fitting tribute to these people and is a symbol of the deep friendship between the UK and China.
The plaque demonstrates the UK’s gratitude to those labourers from Shandong and across China and honours their role in the First World War. This plaque is in addition to commemorations in London, Liverpool and Belgium.
The plaque unveiling is the last part of a series of high profile events named “UK Season in Shandong” to enhance collaboration between the UK and Shandong.
During the past three months, the UK has held over 20 events ranging from education, tourism, creativity, sports to finance, and manufacturing, in six cities in Shandong, including Qingdao, Jinan, Weihai and Weifang, Yantai and Zibo. With high level visits from both sides, new UK businesses set up in Shandong, and crosscutting cultural and creative events successfully held, links have been strengthened throughout the season. For full lists of the outcomes of “UK Season in Shandong”, please see Notes to Editors.
Notes to Editors:
About the Plaque
This plaque is the first commemoration of the Chinese Labour Corps from the UK in China. There are already commemorative statues and plaques in London, Liverpool and Poperinge in Belgium.
About Outcomes of the “UK Season in Shandong”
Governments
- The UK’s Ambassador to China, Barbara Woodword met Shandong Governor Gong Zheng, the Party Secretary of Jinan Wang Zhonglin, and the Party Secretary of Qingdao Zhang Jiangting;
- The PS Wang and Vice Mayor Qingdao visited the UK;
- The Delegation of Coventry, Leeds city region and Cheltenham visited their partner cities in Shandong.
Businesses
- British Petroleum and Dongming Chemical unveiled their new Joint Venture in Jinan;
- Edwards Pump opened a new factory in Qingdao;
- Ballast Water Company Chelsea from Surrey is looking to set up factory in Qingdao;
- Over 30 million pounds of British Seafood exports were agreed at the Seafood Expo in Qingdao;
- Five UK SMEs will open offices in the China Britain Innovation Industry Park in Qingdao;
- A number of Shandong companies, including Weichai Power have invested or plan to increase investment in UK businesses.
People
- Ambassador Woodward opened the UK Season with a UK Tourism Photo Exhibition, visited by half a million people;
- Through the Pledge for Progress roundtable discussion in Jinan, ten companies including BP China make pledges to support gender equality within their businesses;
- Through Science on Tap marine plastic and plastic prevention and control workshop, the UK shared knowledge and methods to control plastic waste with Shandong;
- Through the Higher Education Connect event, the UK brought six universities together to discuss future cooperation with over 50 Shandong universities and colleges;
- Menuhin Music School signed a MOU with a Qingdao company to open a music school in Qingdao.