British firms and indeed British Gas is already involved.
Development
of this discovery, China's largest single gas field, is similar to that
of bringing gas ashore from the northern North Sea and transporting it by
land pipe to the main areas of utilisation in southern Scotland and
England. British companies are therefore able to offer relevant
experience in gas transmission, distribution, storage, compression,
metering and other associated topics, and as such Britain is well able
to offer valuable experience to ensure satisfactory project completion.
In the long term China, like Britain, will be a coal based economy and
indeed coal is beginning to play a more vital role in China's modernisa-
tion programme. British Coal has much to offer China's coal develop-
ments and UK experience in mine reconstruction, underground mechanisation
and bulk handling facilities is particularly relevant to the Chinese
Ministry of Coal's present plans.
I am well pleased with the association which is already underway between
Chinese and British companies. Much has already been achieved and I
have every hope and good reason to believe that the partnerships which
have been formed will flourish and last long into the future.
- 3 -