The Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham joined David Cameron’s business delegation on its high-level trip to Beijing earlier this month.

The delegation met the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, at a UK-China Summit in Beijing. Cabinet ministers on the visit included George Osborne, Vince Cable, Michael Gove and Chris Huhne. Other participants included the chief executives of Alliance Boots, Shell, Standard Life and Diageo, the President of Rolls Royce, the Chairman of Whitbread and Group Chairman of Barclays.

Professor David Greenaway is part of the Prime Minister’s independent advisory team. His role reflects The University of Nottingham’s strong and well developed links with the People’s Republic — it was the first foreign university to establish a campus in mainland China, with the opening of The University of Nottingham Ningbo China in 2004.

Prof Greenaway said: “My involvement signals the importance Government attaches to higher education’s role in building commercial and cultural links with China. The programme will offer excellent opportunities to develop further our existing partnerships as well as developing new ones.”

The visit included an education summit and a roundtable meeting on opportunities and challenges for UK-China research collaboration. The University has developed extensive links and research collaborations in China over the last six years, leveraging its unique position as China’s first Sino-foreign university.

It has been awarded the prestigious status of International Co-operation Base by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. Strategic alliances with elite Chinese partners include clean energy, green manufacturing, biomaterials, geomechanics and low-carbon vehicles.

Prof Greenaway, an economist, was appointed to the Government’s Asia Task Force earlier this year. The Task Force brings together experts from industry, education and government to advise on boosting UK exports and investment in Asian countries.

Prof Greenaway has held several prominent public service roles. He was Chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body from 2004-2010, and a member from 1998-2004. He has also acted as a consultant to the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Commission, the UN, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and HM Treasury.