Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province in China's interior, has accelerated steps to enhance overseas investment, particularly from the United Kingdom.

The southwestern city is striving this year to upgrade its financial, medical and education sectors, all deemed attractive to British interests, said Zhao Yun, chair-woman of the British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China.

By the end of 2013, Chengdu had drawn more than 80 British enterprises, including Standard Chartered Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, with investment of $210 million, according to data from Chengdu.

"The city has a favorable geographical location with a wide reach in western China, and it has abundant human resources and the government's full support," said Zhao. That's why "Chengdu is attractive to British companies", she said.

To tempt British enterprises to the city known for pandas and cuisine, a series of preferential policies were introduced.

Local government support was noted by Zhao, a Chengdu resident for 11 years. "Along with Chengdu's internationalization, more foreigners settled down here, which required more advanced medical establishments with an internationalized service," Zhao said, highlighting the city's huge space for such businesses. She said commerce wants to facilitate a dialogue between the city and the UK's top service-sector companies, including those working in finance.

"The city welcomes more British enter-prises," Chengdu Party Chief Huang Xin-chu said on a visit to London and Cambridge in 2013. "We will make every effort to guarantee a sound business environment in line with international standards and createa win-win development."

Chengdu's recently established airline routes have, to a certain extent, offered more convenience and fostered interaction with UK companies potentially drawn to the city. Chengdu now has 71 international air routes, ranking it first for western and central Chinese cities.

Contact the writers at qiubo@chinadaily.com.cn and liyu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 03/27/2014 page14)