Prospects for growing business links between the UK and China have never been brighter. Last year’s visit to Britain by President Xi Jinping was greeted warmly on both sides and has led to renewed interest in cementing the ties between our two nations. Ahead of Mr Xi’s visit, David Cameron, prime minister, said trade and investment between China and Britain can benefit from a “golden era” in their bilateral relations.
Set against that backdrop, the recent dispute involving members of Wentworth golf club, who object to Reignwood’s plans to invest millions of pounds to return it to past glories, is very disappointing. Not only is it based on a misunderstanding of what we are trying to achieve, it misses the wider point about the need for China and the UK to work more closely together in order to bring more investment here. The dispute risks sending the wrong message to other foreign businesses about the climate for investment.
Wentworth Club is one of the great names in world golf. However in recent years it has suffered from a lack of investment. At the same time, other venues around the world have been putting money into improving their facilities for members. Our vision is to do the same here and to make the club great again. We see an opportunity to restore a great institution to its rightful place, to the benefit of all members and residents, both current and future.