Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister today, that as part of a new package of UK-China creative and cultural collaboration, the Eden Project will be creating an iconic tourism and education centre in China.
Today’s announcement included confirmation that the Eden Project International and China Jinmao Holdings Limited will create an iconic tourism and education centre in the city of Qingdao, focussed on the theme of water. The project is due to open in 2020. The Eden project is also announcing that it will undertake pre-planning and early feasibility consultancy work for a project in Jizhou (near the city of Tianjin) in a former limestone mine with the ultimate aim of regenerating the landscape and surrounding area. Together these projects are expected to generate 130 jobs in the UK.
Commenting, the Prime Minister said:
“Both the UK and China have rich and distinctive cultures of which we are rightly proud. Today’s agreements mean we will work even more closely together, collaborating on film festivals, theme parks, architecture, history and much more.”
“These deals underline the strength of the UK’s creative industries and will generate hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, creating opportunities across the UK.”
“By sharing our history and culture we will also deepen the strong ties between our two peoples.”
Commenting, Steve said:
“It’s brilliant to see Mid-Cornwall’s Eden Project, often voted best international visitor attraction for the UK, primed to become one of Cornwall’s greatest exports.”
“I have every confidence that Sir Tim Smit and his excellent team, will be able to make this project a success and take the unique, innovative and educational brand at Eden to ever greater heights.”