Leeds have a policy to encourage international cooperation in economic, scientific, cultural, or other areas. The policy further has a specific financial provision and the city actively takes action to further the international relations. The city has an International Relations Team who work alongside the Visitor Economy (Tourism) and Inward Investment (Economic Attractiveness) teams within the Economic Development Unit. Although structurally the International Relations team sits within Economic Development, it carries out a corporate function to internationalise the city by promoting international cooperation within the council, across partner organisations and involving civil society organisations, cultural organisations and private sector companies. The team also promotes the active involvement of the city council, the universities and other partners in international networks. The team works closely with schools and the Children and Families Directorate to carry out projects which promote a sense of global citizenship in the younger generation. The city also runs the International Relationships Blog.[1]
In addition, Leeds have partner cities across the world, including in France, Germany, Czech Republic, South Africa and China. Further, the city has regular contact with the consular body which brings together Honorary Consuls based in the local area, representing diaspora groups.
The city also reaches out to foreign students or other youth groups arriving through exchange programmes. The International Relations team reaches out to schools, youth groups and community groups receiving visitors from abroad on exchange programmes to ensure that they get a warm welcome.
Leeds further seeks to develop business relations with countries/cities of origin of its diaspora groups by involving diaspora and mainstream entrepreneurs in international visits and meetings, through partnership/business agreements with counties or cities of origin as well as by supporting organisations seeking to develop business relations with countries/cities of origin of its diaspora groups. The city has had a partnership with the city of Hangzhou in China for 31 years, both civic and in business. Every year Leeds reports to work with the Local Enterprise Partnership to take a trade and investment mission to Hangzhou and encourages local companies to be part of these missions. Leeds receives delegations from Hangzhou and, where appropriate, ask local companies to host the delegations. For example, in early November 2019 the city received a Hangzhou delegation looking at HealthTech and introduced them to start-ups and well-established companies in Leeds who work in the same field.
[1] https://internationalrelationsleeds.blog/2019/10/21/leeds-joins-the-intercultural-cities-network/
