Ambassadors.
That led to an ever increasing process of contact and interchange, of which the past year has been the most remarkable, with an unprecedented number of high level visits hetween us in both directions and of growing exchanges of all kinds. You are yourself the third Minister to come to Britain in the past 12 months, and there have been four Vice-Ministers as well. From our side three Cabinet Ministers have been to China and there have been several visits by groups led by distinguished Parliamentarians as well as leading
industrialists.
And it is not only at this level,
at the all important grass roots level there have been many more academic exchanges and more Britons have gone as tourists to your country than ever before.
3. It is also a year during which the Chinese Government, under Premier Hua Kuo-feng's leadership, has embarked on a policy which all of us recognise as immensely important to China: a programme designed to transform China's economy by means of rapid modernisation affecting all aspects of your national life. It is a grandiose undertaking, and it has our sympathy and admiration.
4.
1
There is also a practical side to our admiration. We believe that we have an important contribution to make to your plans. This country can draw on rich resources of technology and expertise in all areas. We have the ability and the will to turn these to China's benefit as well as to our own. We know that you aim to transform your industry, your agriculture, your science and technology, and capacity to defend your own country. are already co-operating with you in these areas, and I believe there is ample scope for further co-operation in all of them. We believe that a prosperous and
Our
We
secure China will help to make the world a better and safer place in which we can all contribute to the well being of our own peoples and those of other countries. readiness to meet your needs when and where we can should be seen as mutually beneficial; and I should stress that this readiness is not directed against anyone else, nor does it threaten anyone else
15.