The region's business chiefs will underscore the economic opportunities of forging closer ties with China during a key summit hosted by the University of East Anglia.

The East Anglia China Business Forum will discuss how the east can channel a clearer path to trading with China by focusing on the inward investment opportunities, the potential of the Norwich Research Park, and the benefits of venture capital funding.

Leading figures speaking at the event will include Andy Wood, the chair of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership; Andrew Barnes, senior partner of Howes Percival; Chris Cotton, the director of China Britain Business Council; and Dr Nick Rousseau, head of International Innovation Strategy at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills.

The meeting – on Monday January 27, 11am to 3pm at the Council Chamber Room, Council House, UEA – is being held to launch the China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition, an initiative which encourages new business ventures between China and the UK.

The challenge has been developed by a number of leading universities in the UK and China to bring together existing businesses and new student-led start-ups that are looking to exploit market opportunities between the two nations.

Prof Paul Dobson, head of the UEA's Business School, said: 'We expect to use this event to highlight the important opportunities of working with China, which is critical for the development of this region.'

Registration is open to teams of final year students from UK or Chinese institution, post-doctoral researchers and start-up companies less than two years old with university links.

The competition is part of the PMI2 (Prime Minister Initiative II) Connect project, supported by British Council and the Confucius Institute programme funded by Hanban.

Teams will be selected for the chance to win a £5,000 cash prize, and an investment opportunity of £250,000 for the best business plans.

Initial registration, proposal submission and selection deadline is Monday April 14 5pm.

To attend the launch event, please email Dr Yu Xiong at y.xiong@uea.ac.uk.

For more information about the competition, visit http://business.uea.ac.uk/chinaukchallenge.