TNAG-0743-FCO40-947-Relations-between-China-and-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 238

4.

discussions we are having with you about a Science

and Technology Agreement, and the greatly increased

pace of educational, cultural, and other contacts a 2

demonstrate the importance of contact between us,

'not only between Government Ministers but also between

members of our two Parliaments.

These are the

natural result of the surge of interest in your great

country and in the wish to participate in the

achievement of the tasks which you have set yourselves.

I am delighted that the past few weeks have seen the

'conclusion of- contracts worth over £150 million,' 'some

in the traditional area of mining machinery and some in

the new areas such as petrochemical plant.

+

It goes

blow It is very clear to me Mr Minister that, although

our respective historical traditions and our political

systems are very different, there is much common

ground between us and important areas where we can

co-operate to the benefit of both sides.

without saying that Chinese 'and British perceptions

derive from a different philosophical view of the

world but we are both committed to the maintenance

of world peace and to overcoming the divisions which

can create distress, poverty and international tension.

There have been failures of communication in the past.

Geographical distance and varying perceptions "of world

problems and even of the right way to resolve our own

internal problems may not always make it easy to

achieve the understanding we on our side most certainly

/desire