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As a lasting testimony to the Festivals, I would like to think that we might leave to China a major work by one of our contemporary sculptors; whilst China would leave to us, (possibly at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London) a purpose-made small-scale garden following the philosophy and tradition established by the gardens at Suzhou, which are as near to perfection as the human spirit is able to conceive; a monument to permanent values and hope for the future.
Throughout my visit I found a wide measure of agreement with our belief in Britain that the arts speak a universal language that transcends barriers of race, religion, colour, political ideology and geographical circumstance: And that as ambassadors, they are as effective as any diplomatic initiative. There is little doubt that with the right political climate and will, these great Festivals would begin a fresh chapter in Sino-British relations, and help to build a Bridge of Harmony through mutual understanding and trust that would generate, in turn, significant economic ties and trading
partnerships.
In terms of the Arts, of course, we have been the beneficiaries of Chinese culture and trade for many centuries, through pottery,
Jala
furniture, textiles and bronzes, to architectural design, landscaping and horticulture not to mention Chinese cuisine, tea, fireworks and
With the decision by that most indispensable object, the umbrella! Deng Xiaoping to open up the country to a western-style market economy regulated within a strict socialist framework; and British investment in China already topping £600 million, it is not too fanciful to suppose that over a period of trading with the West, there will be adjustments to the political system in China that will bring it closer to Western ideology without diluting its own powerful national identity. The Chinese have a proverb which says that one leaf in front of the eyes can prevent you from seeing the whole forest; whilst Donald Reeves, the Rector of St. James's, Piccadilly,
"A vision without a task is a dream: wrote recently:
A task without
a vision is drudgery: A vision and a task is the hope of the world", wise words, which, taken together, form a concept and a philosophy that both our peoples can embrace as we move forward together into
the 21st century.
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