of
MADE THE
THE FOLLOWING
MISSION
The B.R.A
SINTERER) :-
NOT ISSUED TO PRESS
3. F. 15.
has been in China since the 2nd October at the invitation
he Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.
The Mission was invited following the Trade Mission of the Sino-British
Trade Council led by Lord Nelson a year ago. Don Bartlett on my right was
a member of that mission.
In May of this year the delegation led by Mr Ku Ming,`Vice-Minister of
the State Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China spent some
time at British` Railways establishments and rode our High Speed Train which
is providing the most intensive service at 200k.p.h. in the world developed
for existing lines which have been modernised.
fold. First, to develop the
The purposes of my Mission were threefold.
understanding of British Railways by the engineers and operators of China's
Railways. Second, to see as much aspossible of the present operation of
China's railways, including recently electrified routes. Third, to learn
as much as possible of the planning for further modernisation of China's
railways and to assess ways in which British railway technology and industry
might be of assistance.
In all three areas the mission has been very successful. The members
and of the Mission have had detailed specialist discussions we have been given
the most generous facilities to see railway installations, including the impressive electrifirailway from Paochi to Chengtu.
The discussions have been most frank. The Chinese Ministry of Railways
told us they have signed.no agreement with any other foreign railways for cooperation. We have concluded no agreement but we have a mutual clear understanding of a wide area of expertise where we will be developing proposals. These are summarised in the Press Statement.
We have already had a number of Chinese engineers spending several weeks at Derby Technical Centre, one of the first centres for railway technology in
the world..
...
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