Embassy of the United Kingdom in Beijing
The embassy of the United Kingdom in China is located at Chancery: No. 11, Guang Hua Lu and it performs all of the standard functions of an embassy. The job of the embassy is to represent the government of the United Kingdom in it's dealings with China. At the highest level this is done by the ambassador who represents his country in discussions with the government of China. Most of the day to day work of the embassy however consists of looking after the interests of UK nationals in China. They usually do this by offering advice and in some cases can offer practical assistance but it will depend on the situation. One job of the embassy that has become increasingly important in recent years is to promote the UK in China. The goal is to increase business between the two countries as well as to encourage tourists to visit the UK. They do this by playing up the advantages that the UK offers to businesses and tourists.
The United Kingdom is an island nation off of northwest Europe. It consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and it is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. The country is made up primarily of a fairly large island along with several other smaller islands, however as the country has quite a large population crammed into a fairly small space it is quite crowded. The UK is one of the economic leaders of Europe, and although it has fallen from the position that it used to occupy as the worlds leading economy it remains a major player on the world stage. However questions are being asked as to just how long this will last.
The United Kingdom is a country that loves its traditions and is slow to change, and this is starting to become a problem for the UK. The country is starting to lag behind other European countries in terms of it's technology and service industries. There are also serious questions being raised about the ability of the countries education system to produce the kind of skilled workforce the country needs. The UK continues to rely heavily on the manufacturing industry as well as the resource industry, primarily in the form of North Sea oil and there is a danger that it will get left behind as the worlds economy continues to change. However for now the UK is still one of the largest economies in Europe.
Relations between the UK and China have historically been rocky at best, since the United Kingdoms attempt to colonize the country. In recent years however that relationship has improved dramatically, with British business leaders investing a lot in China. Since the UK returned Hon Kong to China the two countries have been on a much better footing. This is primarily because of the desire of the UK to gain access to the Chinese market and of China to become a major player on the world stage. The two countries have been very careful not to antagonize each other and that has kept relations good. How long it lasts remains to be seen but for now China and the UK are getting along quite well.