RESTRICTED
10.
29.
Commitments of British private investment rose in four
years from virtually nil to the top of the league, perhaps
soon to exceed all other foreign private investment combined.
British exports doubled. The Americans paid the financiers to
learn from the City of London us, and the Embassy operated
with one additional LEI in the Commercial Section.
30. The conclusions there were, I believe, broadly similar to
those reached in the Japan 2,000 Forum and by Mr Patten and Mr
Needham in Northern Ireland. China's needs and interests are
not unique, and if Hong Kong can inspire Tunisia, is it only
weary cynicism that prevents it inspiring more British?
The Silk Road
31. According to the Economist, the 21st century will be
dominated by Islam and China. International strains will
increasingly turn on trade issues.
32.
The Near East and China have known each other for
centuries, better than we Europeans knew either.
"In Muslim history the Mongols loom large but the Crusaders
constitute little more than a footnote". (ME Yapp)
The Near East produced ideas, including the three great
religions of the world and the principles of democracy, for
democracy began in the trading towns of the boat people before it was developed in separate Jewish, Phoenician and Greek
strands. Until 1800 the Middle East did more trade with Asia
than with Europe and it was along the trade routes that ideas
flowed. China in return, sent silk, spices, concepts of
government, armies and a thousand other products of a great
civilisation.