SECRET
97
CONCLUSION
170.
A 20th
thought was the
1789, replied,
up
against the
significance?
century Chinese thinker, when asked what he
significance of the French Revolution in
"It's too soon to tell". How then, so hard
events of the last year, can we tell their
171.
Even 90
close
main
to the canvas, we can pick out the
features of the picture.
It has been a year of
succe88 in every area but one. Our economy has thrived,
Our social programmes have expanded.
hag
of
Our quality of life
improved. All those statistics of success tell a tale
promise achieved in the pages of the Progress Report that
we are publishing today with my Policy Address.
172.
Where have our efforts failed to bear fruit? In
in the attempt to
an area where no one wants failure:
Creale a closer understanding with China, to replace baleful
suspicion with confident trust.
173.
Why have we failed SO far?
Not for want of
trying. Not for lack of the will to make our relationship
work better.
AS China's market opens up and blooms,
economic Convergence
becomes a happy fact of life. So why
not convergence elsewhere?
SECRET
15.