On October 23 local time, President Xi Jinping visited the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester.

At about 10:00 am, Xi Jinping arrived at the institute by car. Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren James Smith, First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse James Wharton of the UK and the President of University of Manchester warmly welcomed him at the drop-off point and accompanied him to visit the institute.

Xi Jinping listened to the Nobel laureate in physics Professor Konstantin Novoselov's introduction to research on graphene, viewed the display of graphene products and visited the underground superclean laboratory for production of graphene.

During the visit, Xi Jinping acknowledged the research capability and international influence of the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester in the field of graphene. Xi Jinping pointed out that under the current general background of a new round of industrial upgrading and scientific and technological revolution, the new material industry will certainly become the cornerstone of and guidance for the future development of high-tech industry, and will exert a profound influence on the development in such areas as the global economy, science and technology and the environment. China is rich in graphene and one of the most active countries in research, application and development of graphene. China and the UK can undoubtedly conduct "cooperation of giants" in graphene research. It is believed that bilateral communication and cooperation will advance relevant research and development process and benefit both sides.

The National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester, established in 2013, was co-sponsored by the UK government and the European Research and Development Fund.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the above activities.