In July 1953, there was a pivotal moment in history. Jack Perry Senior led a delegation to China that forged the groundbreaking agreement with China Import Export Corporation, an essential entity under the China Ministry of Foreign Trade. This landmark partnership laid the foundation for decades of collaboration and mutual growth. It was the first company to have business dealings with New China.

Over 70 years have passed since Jack Perry Senior travelled to the International Economic Conference, held in Moscow, to kick-start East-West trade in the complex conditions of the Cold War.

At the conference, Jack Senior met with the Chinese delegation to showcase his determination and knowledge of the trade, which was foremost in textiles then. These meetings laid the basis for the London Export Corporation to become the new company, which would help China reopen its trade with Western Europe, particularly the UK.

The conference was in April, and the London Export Corporation started its business immediately after, signing its first agreement with the Chinese government in July 1953. LEC became the first company in the world to trade with China after opening its doors again after so many years. British LEC and China became tied together in history.

The first deals were for the supply of wool tops, which were, exported from an ailing textile market in Yorkshire. The great challenge was to find British suppliers prepared to sell to China - and then to find one who would accept a Bank of China letter of credit. It was, with great help from the Bank of China, both in Hong Kong and in London, that LEC could start its business. So it was very fitting that LEC was able to deliver the breakthrough of securing a supplier who would accept their letter of credit - that is, to accept, that the Chinese government was able to meet its obligations and was sincere in doing so.

It was all icebreaking, the moniker that has been labelled to the Perry name through the generations. Jack Perry Senior decided to focus his business on developing China trade in the clear belief that China would surely emerge again as a world trade force and that world trade was a force for good. These were hard days. It took seven days to get to Hong Kong and three more days, from there, to Beijing.

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In 1971 LEC was asked to pioneer the first trade deals between the USA and China. Jack Perry Senior's son Stephen Perry had joined the company now and was dispatched across the Atlantic to manage the development of that major breakthrough. Once again it was a difficult time, a time for Icebreakers. LEC was able to do so and thereby concluded the first deals in late 1971 and early 1972. Stephen later went on to run LEC with Jack Senior moving to chairman. The company divided its time and focus between the UK, Europe and the USA.

Today, London Export Corporation has completed over 6 cycles of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and has engaged with all the various forms of sectors and investment with China. LEC has worked with many companies in different countries to open up business with China.

In 2006 Stephen’s son, and the namesake of his grandfather, Jack Perry Junior joined the company. LEC continued its range of work in the entertainment field, the tech/health/private equity and many other sectors. Cultivating opportunities for large-scale companies to work with LEC.

LEC assets are, having a true strategic outlook, specialising in problem-solving/connecting the dots and long-term thinking. LEC uses case by case basis for the work we go into. LEC has had many joint ventures and created many successful businesses.

LEC has worked with many Chinese companies and Western companies, being in most sectors in its time. Knowing how to do business with China and helping the two differences of West and East being moulded by the team at LEC. The Perry family have lived and breathed these experiences, and do so today in its third generation with a solid team of experienced minds.