Representatives from Bradford Council and University of Bradford and are in Qingdao, China this week seeking to building stronger relationships in film production, education and tourism.

The Bradford team is part of a wider delegation from Leeds City Region aiming to accelerate investment relationships with the second largest economy in the world.

Bradford representatives will meet with their counterparts from the West Coast New Area of Qingdao and sign a memorandum of understanding to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, creative and innovation industries, science and technology, culture and education.

Bradford UNESCO Creative City of Film has established close links with Qingdao and supported the city to attain its status as China’s first UNESCO Creative City of Film in 2017.The University of Bradford has been working closely with the Qingdao University of Science and Technology to develop a jointly taught degree in animation for students starting in September 2019. 

Mark Garratt, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Bradford and board member of Bradford UNESCO City of Film said: “I am absolutely delighted to visit Qingdao for the first time to see first-hand how we will be developing a strategic relationship between the cities of Qingdao and Bradford. […] I am particularly delighted with the partnership between Bradford UNESCO City of Film and Qingdao UNESCO City of Film and the two universities.”