TNAG-1711-FCO40-2389-Future-British-Consulate-General-in-Hong-Kong-HMS-Tamar-1987 — Page 19

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China's

still requires large scale imports of advanced technology and a greatly increased balancing flow of export. past record of prompt payment, and the relatively modest external debt and debt service ratio has meant that there

have so far been no difficulties in attracting adequate

China herself is credit for her modernisation programme.

concerned to avoid becoming over-committed, and will seek to

use counter-trade and other cooperative arrangements to

conserve foreign exchange where possible.

3. Economic development has not followed a smooth path. Agricultural reform based on the redistribution to peasant households of collectively owned land has led to a

significant increase in the food production. But continued development will be more difficult. Cultivable land remains

scarce and farming technology is backward.

Mineral

resources (especially oil, coal and certain non-ferrous

metals) could meet domestic demand and support foreign

exchange earnings, but infrastructure problems and energy

shortages have resulted in production stoppages.

Development of the energy sector, communications

infrastructure and modernisation of industrial enterprises

are high priorities.

4. China's foreign policy, marked by an emphasis on China's "independence", is concerned to contain the spread

of Soviet and US influence and power, particularly in Asia.

Another key element has recently been the need to develop

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