Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Rwyf newydd fod ar ymweliad 6 diwrnod â Tsieina, a drefnwyd i gryfhau a datblygu cysylltiadau Llywodraeth Cymru â Llywodraethau Dinesig Beijing a Chongqing, ac i hybu buddiannau Cymru ym meysydd busnes, addysg a diwylliant.

Tsieina yw’r economi fwyaf ond un yn y byd ac mae’n dal i dyfu. Mae ei photensial yn aruthrol o ran masnach ac addysg yn enwedig, ac mae ysfa am fwy o gysylltiadau diwylliannol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn canolbwyntio ar ddatblygu cysylltiadau ar lefel Llywodraethau Dinesig/Taleithiol er mwyn manteisio ar gyfleoedd busnes a chyfleoedd eraill. Ni ellir goramcanu rôl a dylanwad Llywodraeth yn Tsieina.

Cefais gyfarfod briffio â Llysgennad Prydain i Tsieina, â phennaeth Masnach a Buddsoddi y DU (Tsieina), ac â Chyfarwyddwr y Cyngor Prydeinig yn Tsieina i drafod cysylltiadau’r DU a Tsieina, cyfleoedd busnes a materion diwylliannol ac addysgol.

Gwnaeth Prif Weinidog Cymru lofnodi Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth â Llywodraeth Ddinesig Beijing (sy’n cynrychioli poblogaeth o ryw 20 miliwn) yn ystod ei ymweliad â Tsieina yn Hydref 2011\. Gwnaeth ein Hadran Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth lofnodi Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth â Swyddfa Hybu Buddsoddi Llywodraeth Beijing ym Mehefin 2012, ac ers hynny rydym wedi croesawu 5 dirprwyaeth fusnes o Beijing yng Nghymru.  

Yn ystod fy ymweliad, gwnaeth fy Adran innau dros Dai, Adfywio a Threftadaeth lofnodi Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth â Swyddfa Ddiwylliant Llywodraeth Beijing i annog mwy o gysylltiadau a chydweithio ym meysydd treftadaeth, celfyddyd a diwylliant, gan adeiladu ar ymgysylltu sydd eisoes wedi cychwyn, er enghraifft y daith lwyddiannus gan Gerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC i Beijing yng Ngorffennaf y llynedd. Yn ogystal gwnaeth fy ymweliad hwyluso llofnodi Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth i sicrhau cydweithio rhwng Amgueddfa Cymru ac Amgueddfa Prifddinas Beijing, un o’r amgueddfeydd celfyddyd mwyaf nodedig yn Tsieina.

Gwneuthum gyfarfod â Mme Hou Yulan, Dirprwy Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol Llywodraeth Ddinesig Beijing, i drafod datblygiad y cysylltiad rhwng Cymru a Beijing a’r posibilrwydd o’i ddatblygu ymhellach. Rhoddais gyfweliad cynhwysfawr i’r cylchgrawn “Economi”, sy’n cael ei gyhoeddi gan y Cyngor Gwladol, gyda mwy na 250,000 o gopïau yn cael eu hanfon at ddarllenwyr dylanwadol gan gynnwys y Llywodraeth Ganolog a Gweinyddiaethau Gwladol, Llywodraethau Dinesig, a Mentrau sy’n Eiddo i’r Wladwriaeth.

Ar 1 Mawrth cynhaliais Dderbyniad Gŵyl Dewi i ryw 150 o bobl allweddol ym meysydd Llywodraeth, busnes, addysg a diwylliant, a theithiodd rhai yn bell iawn i fod yno. Roedd y mynychwyr hefyd yn cynnwys aelodau o Gymdeithas Dewi Sant Beijing.

Ymwelais hefyd â’r Ddinas Waharddedig ac ardal hutongs (lonydd cul) Beijing, am fod y ddau le ymhlith safleoedd twristiaeth ddiwylliannol pwysicaf Beijing. Trefnwyd yr ymweliadau hynny gan Ffederasiwn Dinasoedd Twristiaeth y Byd, y mae Cymru newydd ddod yn aelod ohono.

Mae cysylltiad Cymru â Chongqing (Rhanbarth Dinesig o ryw 33 miliwn o bobl ac un o’r rhannau o Tsieina sy’n datblygu gyflymaf) wedi bod yn ffynnu ers llofnodi’r Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth cyntaf yn 2006\. Y cysylltiad hwn yw’r ehangaf a’r prysuraf rhwng unrhyw ran o’r DU a Tsieina.  

Yn Chongqing lansiais Wythnos Cymru yn swyddogol ac agorais arddangosfa Amgueddfa Cymru "Cymru – Gwlad y Ddraig Goch", a fydd yn para am bedwar mis yn Amgueddfa Tri Cheunant Tsieina. Cynhaliais Dderbyniad yn yr un lleoliad i ryw 200 o bobl allweddol ym meysydd Llywodraeth, busnes, addysg a diwylliant, gan gynnwys rhai a oedd wedi treulio 5 awr ar y ffordd i gael bod yno, sy’n dangos cryfder y cysylltiadau yr ydym wedi’u meithrin.  

Fe’m syfrdanwyd gan y proffil a’r enw da y mae Cymru wedi’u sefydlu yn y rhanbarth, a chan awydd cynifer o bobl i gydweithio â Chymru. Roedd seremoni agor Wythnos Cymru yn cynnwys llofnodi tri Memorandwm Cyd\-ddealltwriaeth rhwng:

* Adran Tai, Adfywio a Threftadaeth Llywodraeth Cymru a Swyddfa Ddiwylliant Llywodraeth Ddinesig Chongqing i gydweithio ym meysydd celfyddyd, treftadaeth a diwylliant;
* Adran Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth Llywodraeth Cymru a Chomisiwn Masnach Dramor ac Economaidd Chongqing i gydweithio i nodi a datblygu cyfleoedd busnes;
* Pump o Brifysgolion Cymru (Metropolitan Caerdydd, Casnewydd, Metropolitan Abertawe, Glyndŵr a Morgannwg) a chwmni dylunio creadigol sector preifat i sefydlu consortiwm masnachol yn seiliedig ar ddylunio.

Gwneuthum gyfarfod â Ms Tan Jialing, Is\-Faer Llywodraeth Ddinesig Chongqing i drafod y cysylltiad rhwng Cymru a Chongqing a sut i’w ddatblygu ymhellach. Gyda mi yn y cyfarfod roedd staff Llywodraeth Cymru, Prif Gonswl Prydain, yr oeddwn eisoes wedi cael cyfarfod briffio ag ef, a Chyfarwyddwr y Cyngor Prydeinig yn Chongqing.

Cynhaliais ginio briffio gyda chyfranogwyr mewn taith fasnach gan Lywodraeth Cymru i Chongqing yn rhan o Wythnos Cymru. Mae’r adborth yn ei chylch wedi bod yn gadarnhaol iawn hyd yma gyda mwy na’r disgwyl yn cael ei gyflawni mewn sawl achos.

Rhoddais anerchiad ar adfywio i gynulliad o ryw 65 o fyfyrwyr ym Mhrifysgol Astudiaethau Rhyngwladol Sichuan, ac fe’m synnwyd ar yr ochr orau gan eu diddordeb diffuant yn ein profiad o adfywio yng Nghymru.

Ymwelais a chefais drafodaethau â Chyfarwyddwr Gweithredol prosiect adfywio sector preifat sy’n gwario £3 biliwn i droi hen ddiwydiant trwm ac ardal breswyl anghyfannedd yn ddatblygiad preswyl, masnachol a hamdden cymysg, y mae ei faint yn syfrdanol. Lawn mor syfrdanol yw prosiect tai cymdeithasol yr ymwelais ag ef, sy’n datblygu 560,000 o unedau yn ninas Chongqing.

Ymwelais ag Amgueddfa Neuadd Tref Huguang Chongqing, ac Amgueddfa a Theatr Tŷ Opera Sichuan, y mae’r ddwy yn adlewyrchu traddodiadau diwylliannol ac ethnig cyfoethog y rhanbarth.

Gwneuthum gyfarfod â dirprwyaeth o Swyddfa Ddiwylliant talaith gyfagos Guizhou sy’n awyddus i ddatblygu cysylltiadau ehangach â Chymru. Byddant yn ymweld â Chymru cyn bo hir mewn cydweithrediad ag Amgueddfa Cymru.

Agorais "Salon Twristiaeth" a oedd wedi’i drefnu gan staff Llywodraeth Cymru er mwyn i ryw 25 o weithredwyr cyfryngau teithio a thwristiaeth hyrwyddo Cymru fel cyrchfan i’r niferoedd cynyddol o dwristiaid Tsieineaidd sy’n ymweld ag Ewrop.

Roedd fy ymweliad â Tsieina yn agoriad llygad mewn sawl ffordd. Mae’r ffordd y mae ein staff ar lawr gwlad wedi datblygu proffil ac enw da Cymru, drwy ein cysylltiadau â Llywodraethau, wedi gwneud argraff fawr arnaf. Cryfder y cysylltiadau hynny ar lefel y Llywodraeth sydd wedi galluogi Cymru ar y cyfan i osgoi cael ei thynnu i’r tensiynau sy’n amlwg ar lefel genedlaethol rhwng y DU a Tsieina.  

Rwyf wedi fy narbwyllo o’r cyfleoedd sydd ar gael ym meysydd busnes, addysg a diwylliant, ac o’r angen i ymgysylltu’n rhagweithiol er mwyn manteisio arnynt. Rwy’n credu bod fy ymweliad wedi cyfrannu’n gadarnhaol at yr ymgysylltu hwnnw.







Translation:


 
I have recently returned from a 6 day visit to China, the purpose of which was to reinforce and progress the Government\-to\-Government relationships established with the Municipal Governments of Beijing and Chongqing, and to promote Welsh interests in the fields of business, education and culture.


China is the second largest economy in the world and is still experiencing growth levels.  It offers huge potential in the trade and education areas in particular, while there is a thirst for more cultural links.  Welsh Government efforts are focused on the development of relationships at the Municipal / Provincial Government level through which to access business and other opportunities.  The role and influence of Government in China cannot be overestimated.


I had a briefing meeting with the British Ambassador to China, the head of UK Trade \& Investment China, and the Director British Council China to discuss UK\-China relationships, business opportunities and cultural and educational matters.


The First Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Beijing Municipal Government (representing a population of some 20 million) during his visit to China in October 2011\. Our Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science Department (BETS) signed a MOU with the Beijing Government Investment Promotion Bureau in June 2012, following which we have hosted 5 business delegations from Beijing in Wales.  


During my visit, my own Department of Housing, Regeneration and Heritage signed a MOU with the Beijing Government's Culture Bureau to promote and encourage greater contact and collaboration in the fields of heritage, art and culture, building on engagement that has already begun, for example the successful tour by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to Beijing in July last year.  My visit also facilitated the signing of a collaboration MOU between the National Museum Wales and the Beijing Capital Museum, one of the most prestigious art museums in China.


I met Mme Hou Yulan, Deputy Secretary General of the Beijing Municipal Government, to discuss progress on the Wales \- Beijing relationship and the scope for its further development.  I gave a wide\-ranging interview to the "Economy" magazine, published by the State Council, with a circulation of over 250,000 to an influential readership including Central Government and State Ministries, Municipal Governments and State\-Owned Enterprises.


On 1 March I hosted a St David's Day Reception for around 150 key contacts in the fields of Government, business, education and culture, some of whom had travelled considerable distances to attend.  Attendees also included members of the Beijing St David's Society.


I also visited the Forbidden City and the Hutong (narrow lanes) area of Beijing, both being among the most important cultural tourism sites in Beijing.  Those visits were arranged by the World Cities Tourism Federation, of which Wales has recently become a member.


Wales' relationship with Chongqing (a Municipality of some 33 million people and amongst the fastest developing parts of China) has been thriving since the signing of the first MOU in 2006\.  The relationship is the most extensive and most active between any part of the UK and China.  


In Chongqing I officially launched Wales Week and opened the National Museum Wales' exhibition "Wales \- Land of the Red Dragon", which will run for four months at the China Three Gorges Museum. I hosted a Reception at the same venue for around 200 key contacts in the fields of Government, business, education and culture, including some who had travelled for 5 hours by road to attend, a testimony to the relationships we have built up.  


I was taken aback by the profile and reputation that Wales has established in the region, and the eagerness displayed by so many people to work with Wales. The opening ceremony of Wales Week included the signing of three MOUs between:


 


* the Welsh Government’s Department for Housing, Regeneration \& Heritage and the Chongqing Municipal Government's Culture Bureau to collaborate in the areas of art, heritage and culture;
* the Welsh Government’s Department for Business, Enterprise, Technology \& Science and the Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Commission (COFTEC) to collaborate in the identification and development of business opportunities;
* five Welsh Universities (Cardiff Metropolitan, Newport, Swansea Metropolitan, Glyndwr and Glamorgan) and a private sector creative design company for the establishment of a commercial design\-based consortium.


 


I met Ms Tan Jialing, Vice Mayor of the Municipal Government of Chongqing to discuss the Wales \- Chongqing relationship and its further development. I was accompanied by Welsh Government staff, the British Consul General, with whom I had already held a briefing meeting, and the Director of the British Council, Chongqing.


I held a briefing dinner with participants in a Welsh Government trade mission visiting Chongqing as part of Wales Week, the feedback from which so far has been very positive with expectations exceeded in a number of cases.


I addressed a gathering of some 65 students at the Sichuan International Studies University on the subject of regeneration, and was pleasantly surprised by their genuine interest in our regeneration experience in Wales.


I visited and held discussions with the Executive Director of a £3billion private sector regeneration project to transform a previous heavy industry and derelict residential area into a mixed residential, commercial and leisure development, the scale of which is breathtaking. Equally breathtaking is a social housing project I visited which is developing 560,000 units within the city of Chongqing.


I visited the Chongqing Huguang Guild Hall Museum, and the Sichuan Opera House Museum and Theatre, both reflecting the rich cultural and ethnic traditions of the region.


I met a delegation from the Culture Bureau of neighbouring Guizhou Province which is keen to develop wider links with Wales. They will be visiting Wales shortly in collaboration with the National Museums Wales.


I opened a "Tourism Salon" organised by our Welsh Government staff involving around 25 travel media and tour operators to promote Wales as a tourist destination for the fast\-increasing numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Europe.


My visit to China was an eye\-opening experience in a number of ways. I have been hugely impressed by the way our staff on the ground have built up the profile and reputation of Wales, working through the Government relationships we have established.  It is testament to the strength of those relationships at Government level that Wales has largely been able to avoid getting caught up in the tensions which are apparent at national UK and China levels.  


I have been convinced of the opportunities available in the fields of business, education and culture, and of the need to engage pro\-actively to exploit them. I believe my visit has contributed positively to that engagement.