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while the Chinese will not willingly allow them-
selves to become too dependent on the West, over
time increasing trade will - as with the Soviet
Union create a degree of technological dependence
and a continuing need for trade.
This will work in
favour of stable political and economic relations
between China and her major trading partners,
with implications for her international relationships,
although probably not - at least in the foreseeable
future for her attitudes at the UN and in
international negotiations. There is also, for the
same reason, a strong Western interest in maintaining
frequent political contacts with China's leaders,
both by visits to China by Ministers, senior
officials and senior military officers (like the
visit of the CDS); and by showing senior Chinese Westem
countries at first hand through visits to Western
capitals. Britain can and should play her part in
this in the general Western interest as well as in
support of her bilateral interests over Hong Kong
and trade. Exchanges of views on China in the Nine
and with the US and Japan will continue to be
Какая р
valuable, not least in order to try to ensure that
discussions of particular aspects of Western policy
towards China are seen from a common perspective.
This is particularly true of the trade field, where
China's needs will be examined in the next section.
i
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