2008 will be the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. According to Jan Figel, European commissioner with responsibility for education, training, culture and multilingualism, the need for a "dialogue between cultures" has come from "successive enlargements of the European Union, greater mobility in the single market, and increased travel to - and trade with - the rest of the world." So it's an auspicious time to be starting our partnership with the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, part of the new World Trade Centre in Hull.
With the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics taking place on 8th August, 2008 will also be, in many ways, the year of China. The slogan for the Games is "One World One Dream". According to the event's organising committee, the Chinese version of the slogan uses the word "tongyi" (meaning "the same") for the English word "One", which highlights the theme of "the whole of mankind lives in the same world and seeks the same dream and ideal".
The Chamber will be leading a trade mission to Qingdao, China's fifth biggest city, from 20th to 25th February. A natural deepwater port, Qingdao is located in the Yellow River basin, and is a key hub for international trade. As part of the trip, the mission is due to celebrate the arrival of the Hull & Humber Clipper, the Yorkshire Forward-sponsored yacht (pictured), which is taking part in the Clipper Round the World Race 2007-08.