CONFIDENTIAL
7. When I last came to China, the question of the future of
Hong Kong was a problem to be resolved between us. The negotiations whole successful conclusion we marked today have not only achieved this. They have also brought Britain and China closer together. They have given fresh impetus to the efforts of both countries to develop strong and wide-ranging relations between us. Excellent prospects for strengthening cultural links already exist. And the potential for economic co-operation is now greater than ever before. In many of the areas which are essential to your modernisation plans Britain has a great deal of experience. I believe we in Britain can make an enormous contribution to helping you build a strong and prosperous China. We look forward to doing so.
8. Strength and prosperity at home require peace and stability abroad. As Chairman Deng has said: "like the rest of the people of the world, we really need a peaceful
environment". How true that is. Both Britain and China have
shown themselves captable and willing to work for a more stable world free of the threat posed by armed might. With our shared goodwill and our constructive attitude to international issues, we should now redouble our efforts to contribute jointly to world peace and prosperity. The spirit should be that of Tennyson's ringing call: "to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield".
CONFIDENTIAL
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