By Joe Cash

BEIJING (Reuters) – Britain’s finance minister Rachel Reeves will visit China on a two-day trip in January to revive high-level economic and financial talks that have been frozen since 2019, three people with knowledge of the plan said.

Reeves is scheduled to meet China’s vice premier He Lifeng, the country’s economy tsar, on Jan. 11 in Beijing to restart what had been annual talks known as the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), they said.

If those discussions show progress, the two sides could look to re-launch what had been a regular and wider meeting known as the Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) later next year, the sources said.

British businesses have also pressed to restart meetings of the UK-China CEO Council, a group established by then-Prime Minister Theresa May and then-Premier Li Keqiang in 2018, one of the sources added.

Reuters reported on Thursday that HSBC Chairman Mark Tucker will lead a business delegation that will visit China next month in a bid to boost trade and investment with a particular focus on financial services.

Reeves will also go to Shanghai, where she will meet with British companies operating in China on Jan. 12, according to the sources, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the plans.

Britain decided to suspend most economic dialogues with China in 2020 after Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong, the former British colony. Since then, spying allegations, the war in Ukraine, and the sanctioning of lawmakers have increased tensions between the two countries.

The Labour government, in power in Britain since July, has made improving ties with China one of its main foreign policy goals after a period under successive Conservative governments when relations plunged to their lowest in decades.

In 2022, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a Conservative, declared the end of a “golden era” of relations with China that one of his predecessors, David Cameron, had championed.

Over the preceding decade, British and Chinese officials had met annually for high-level trade and investment talks, holding an EFD almost every year and a JETCO every two years.

Those talks resulted in the London-Shanghai stock connect scheme, Britain joining the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and joint investment into green technologies, including the UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.

(Reporting by Joe Cash)

Hello! It’s Rebecca here with your final Australia Briefing of 2024. And what a year it’s been. From the re-election of Donald Trump and the ongoing slowdown in China, to the blockbuster IPOs and corporate scandals closer to home — 2024 will go down as one for the ages.

Before we all revert to the sanctity of our beach towels, I thought I’d load you up with a selection of my favorite pieces from Bloomberg’s Australia newsroom this year. A stockpile of stories, videos and podcasts to help you while away those days by the pool, at the campsite, or wherever the onset of summer takes you…

Is ‘Bluey’ Ending? Disney’s Worried Biggest Kids Show Ever Is at Risk — Essential reading for anyone with a kid, or honestly, a pulse. Did you know that Americans watched 731 million hours of Bluey in 2023, more than NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls or that perennial of the broadcast, cable and streaming eras, Friends? That’s almost as much as my kids.

Australia Has a Top Pension Program. Why Are Many Retirees Still Struggling? — It’s official: Australia’s retirement system is the envy of the wealthy world. So why aren’t we all diving Scrooge McDuck-style into a vat of cash?

Malaria Rates Surge After Mosquito Net Changes Complicate Global Fight — Travel to the depths of Siar Village, Papua New Guinea with our reporters as they explain why the world is losing its fight against malaria.

World’s Top Retailer Is Now Trying to Save Air New Zealand — We report a lot on the former CEO of this airline, you may know him as the New Zealand PM. But what do you know about the new one?

Investing for the Ultra-Rich: Family Offices Are Booming in Perth, Australia — Twiggy lives there, and so does Gina — but those two reasonably well-off citizens aside, why is Perth a magnet for family offices?

GLENS FALLS, N.Y., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Arrow Financial Corporation (NasdaqGS® – AROW) is pleased to announce the appointment of James M. Dawsey, Dr. Kristine D. Duffy, Philip Morris and Daniel J. White to the Arrow Financial Corporation Board of Directors, effective November 5, 2024.

James M. Dawsey, President of MLB Construction Services, LLC, will bring financial and operational expertise to the Arrow board, drawing from more than 45 years of experience in construction management and operations oversight. He has extensive expertise in reviewing financial statements, cost control and profit-and-loss oversight for his five companies. His proven ability to ensure financial strength and operational efficiency will provide valuable insight to the board. He currently serves on the board of directors of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, Upstate Agency, LLC, Local Union 157 and the Eastern Contractors Association.

Dr. Kristine D. Duffy, President of SUNY Adirondack, has more than 35 years of New York state higher education experience and brings progressively responsible administrative and leadership roles to the board. Her expertise in personnel, strategic planning, capital fundraising and board governance will be instrumental in guiding the company’s future. Duffy is involved with the community through several board positions, currently serving on the Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, Upstate Agency, LLC and Warren County Economic Development Corporation board of directors.

Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative, brings extensive expertise in cultural facilities and development to the board, with nearly 50 years of experience renovating more than 20 buildings for cultural purposes and raising more than $200 million to support these projects. His proven success in fundraising, strategic planning and stakeholder collaboration will provide valuable insights into managing complex projects and fostering community engagement. Active in the community, Morris currently serves on the board of directors of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company, Upstate Agency, LLC and the Capital Region Economic Development Council.

Daniel J. White, a Certified Public Accountant, brings a wealth of experience to the board, having served as the former Office Managing Partner for KPMG LLP’s Albany and Upstate offices. With a 37-year career specializing in community bank auditing and accounting, White’s expertise will be invaluable to the board. White most recently served on the boards of Proctors Theater and the Capital District Center for Economic Growth.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jim, Kris, Philip and Dan to the Arrow Financial Corporation Board of Directors,” said David S. DeMarco, President and CEO of Arrow Financial Corporation. “Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will greatly enhance our board’s capabilities. We are confident their leadership and insights will help guide our organization as we continue to grow, innovate and serve our community with excellence.”

About Arrow Financial Corporation: 
Arrow Financial Corporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Glens Falls, New York, serving the financial needs of northeastern New York. The Company is the parent of Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. Other subsidiaries include North Country Investment Advisers, Inc. and Upstate Agency, LLC.

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SOURCE Arrow Financial Corporation