Full coverage: 95 years of glory

In the 1950s, a group of British businessmen made a ground breaking trip to China. This started a business exchange with the newly-founded People’s Republic of China. Now, six decades later, we take a look back to see how trade relations were built between the two countries.

The history stems from the early 1950s, when 48 businessmen from British companies, later known as The 48 Group, became the first Westerners to establish trade relations with the new China.

Also known as the “Icebreakers,” these businessmen led trail-blazing initiatives which have become a part of British-Chinese history. Stephen Perry is now the chairman of the group. He is the son of Jack Perry, the organizer of the first Icebreaker mission in 1953. He said the hard-working and selfless Chinese Communists left a great impression on the British traders at the time.
 
“The most important impression they gave to my father,” Perry said.

But trading with Red China at that time was not easy, as the Chinese economy was blocked by the Western world. Though misunderstood by their fellow countrymen, the British icebreakers stuck to their beliefs that they were building peace through trade relations.

“There were people then want to build business relations with Communist countries,” Perry said.

Sixty years after the first ‘Icebreakers’ mission, the commercial group grew to be the most respected and well-known organization in Chinese-British trade.

Perry said the group continues to help British companies enter the Chinese market. And the China-led “Belt and Road” initiative is of great significance to this cooperation.

“Its job is to understand Chinese policies and help people understand how to take advantage of the opportunities,” Perry said.

China-Britain ties have now entered a new phase of sustained development. And the pioneering spirit of those who broke the ice remains important for both countries, as they explore new areas of economic cooperation.