BRITAIN should not feel threatened by China but rather work with the country to gain many benefits - this was the conclusion reached at a recent joint Bournemouth and Poole business breakfast forum at the Harbour Heights Hotel in Sandbanks.

In May, representatives from the Borough of Poole visited Chongqing in China with the Dorset Chamber of Commerce to better understand the benefits for Dorset businesses in forging partnerships with businesses in China.

Chongqing is an important industrial base for China, with a population of 30 million.

Joint speakers at the breakfast were economic development manager at the Borough of Poole Peter Wheelhouse and chief executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce Peter Scott.

Both enthused about the latest developments in Chongqing and how attractive these should be to Dorset businesses.

The city of Chongqing now has a major airport and its main industries are machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, foodstuffs and textiles.

Chongqing also holds an important position in China in aluminium processing, machine tooling, instrument manufacturing and inland-water shipbuilding.

Among other businesses it is home to a large motorcycle manufacturer - the Chinese equivalent to Harley-Davidson.

While it is easy to bemoan the loss of so much of the UK's manufacturing industry, it seems that a number of British businesses have seen China's potential. Large UK companies such as Hewlett Packard and BAE Systems have already chosen to move their manufacturing from the UK to Chongqing. Peter Scott stressed that this should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat.

He said: "The Dorset delegation signed commercial association, co-operation and friendship agreements with the Commercial and Business Association of Chongqing Yubei district and with the Chinese Affairs Office of Chongqing People Municipal Government. Some Dorset businesses have already pursued links with China.

"For instance DEK, based in Weymouth, has already outsourced 65 per cent of its manufacturing to China.

"This example shows that local businesses can continue to thrive whilst also benefiting from partnerships with Chinese businesses."

He added: "A delegation from Chongqing visited the UK last year. They visited London and, having done their due diligence, decided to visit Poole, too."

"The chamber is looking to put together another trip to Chongqing next spring. We've done the pioneering work now. A lot more still remains to be done and the opportunities are there for local businesses to grasp."