We must now build up our modern connections.
We intend to do that in three ways.
First, we must expand our political dialogue with Asian
Governments. We agreed earlier this year greatly to intensify
our exchanges with Japan. That is now happening and proving its
value. We have good arrangements in place for India and
Australia. We shall be extending our dialogue to other Asian
countries so that we are fully abreast of their concerns and
they know ours.
Second, we seek closer cooperation with the countries of Asia
in tackling regional and global problems. We want to make
available our experience of conflict resolution, our diplomatic
expertise, our practical knowledge of peace-keeping to help in
the solution of Asian problems and to engage Asian countries
more in tackling global problems.
Third, but it could just as well be first, we shall give the maximum possible support, as resources permit, to the efforts of our firms. Britain is already the largest European investor in
the Asia/Pacific region; the largest European exporter of
invisibles; and the second largest European exporter of goods.
We have a good base but we must build on it. We shall be
considering carefully how best we can use our resources to
strengthen our trade promotion effort in Asia, to increase our
share of trade in invisibles, and to encourage Asian inward
investment here.
We have plenty of practical measures in mind. It must all add up to a strong drive to engage more fully with a region of
the world whose increased importance to our own economy, to the world economy and to a stable and secure global environment becomes more obvious every day.
(reference: dft)
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