China

HC Deb 20 November 1972 vol 846 cc886-9

6. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Chinese Government on the exchange of students between Great Britain and China.

Mr. Amery

During my right hon. Friend's recent visit, the Chinese Government confirmed that they would like to send up to 200 students to Britain within the next year to study English.

The necessary arrangements for their stay are being prepared.

We have assured them of our readiness to give every help.

The Chinese authorities are still considering the requests we have put to them for facilities for British students to go to China to improve their knowledge of modern Chinese.

Mr. Dalyell

Since the Chinese Vice-Minister said last week that it was hoped to receive British students to China in the second part of next year, may I ask the Minister what discussions he is having with the Chinese authorities on how the students are to be selected? Are they to be 17-year-olds or 18-year-olds, or post-graduates? What considerations will be taken into account?

Mr. Amery

We have not yet received any advice from the Chinese authorities that they are prepared to receive British students. We cannot say exactly how the arrangement will be handled till we do. I think the normal way would be through the British Council machinery, which will proceed, as it does now in many other countries, with selection.

13. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to China.

3. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement following his recent official visit to China.

Mr. Amery

My right hon. Friend visited China from 29th October to 2nd November.

He held talks with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Trade and the Prime Minister.

The talks covered most aspects of international affairs and, of course, bilateral issues as well.

At the present moment in the affairs of South-East Asia and the Far East it was very useful to have direct discussions at Foreign Minister level about world problems.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the whole House will be gratified by the improved relations between the United Kingdom and China? Is he able to say what are the prospects that trade with China will be increased as a result of the visit? Can he give reasons why the Chinese Government support British entry into the Common Market?

Mr. Amery

The hon. Gentleman will not be surprised if, as a former Minister of Aviation, I welcome the decision of the Chinese Government to buy 20 Trident aircraft—the first of which is now on its way to China—and three Concorde aircraft, and to show an interest in buying the VC10, which, I hope. will restart this important production line, which has been sadly neglected.

I think that in their search for peace and détente the Chinese Government naturally welcome any development that will strengthen the cohesion of the Western European countries and their ability to contribute to economic prosperity and to peace.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

Was the subject of Hong Kong mentioned?

Mr. Amery

There were naturally discussions about relations over Hong Kong in particular and about the resumption of rail communications and flights from Hong Kong to China.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

We all welcome the Minister's statement about trade, but is he aware that while the Foreign Secretary was away it was officially announced that the Deputy Prime Minister, or Deputy Minister of Trade, or both, wanted to come here last August to discuss trade, but were told not to come because no one at the Foreign Office or at the Department of Trade and Industry would be able to meet them, because they were all on holiday? Will he see whether that is true and, if it is not, deny it? If it is, will he see that when people wish to come here on an official visit there is someone to receive them?

Mr. Amery

I was not at the Foreign Office at the time. I am not sure whether full ambassadorial relationships had been re-established at the time. We had had diplomatic relations for many years, but not. I think, ambassadorial relationships at that time. I am glad to say that I was happy to receive and to spend two hours in discussion with and to entertain to lunch the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is, I suppose, my opposite number in the Chinese Government.

Sir G. Nabarro

The statement about aircraft is extremely valuable, but will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the market for capital goods and equipment in China is vastly greater than the relatively small segment applicable to aircraft? What did the Foreign Secretary discuss about the supply of capital equipment generally?

Mr. Amery

When in Peking my right hon. Friend took the opportunity to draw the attention of the Chinese Government to our ability to help contribute to the supply of sophisticated engineering, electronic and other equipment.

Mr. Callaghan

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us where the Foreign Secretary is visiting today, and will he represent to him that we should very much welcome his presence in the House for an early debate on foreign affairs?

Mr. Amery

My right hon. Friend is in The Hague today, and he will be returning tomorrow. He very much regrets missing Questions in the House. The difficulty is that Monday is now the day both for Questions to my right hon. Friend and for meetings of the Council of Ministers of the Community. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Patronage Secretary has already been in touch with the usual channels to see whether arrangements can be made to avoid a recurrence of this difficulty and therefore to make Foreign Office Questions later in the week, which may be convenient and attractive to those interested in these problems.

Mr. Callaghan

That sprat seems to have caught a rather large mackeral. Is the Minister aware that most of us find Mondays perfectly satisfactory and that the Foreign Secretary should fulfil his duty to the House and answer Questions here on the day when they are down to him?

Mr. Amery

I am not sure that the occupation of the Opposition benches fully endorsed the right hon. Gentleman's point of view. These matters are being discussed through the usual channels. As for the right hon. Gentleman's remarks concerning a foreign affairs debate, it is not for me to pre-empt the decision of the Leader of the House, but I will make sure that those remarks are conveyed to him.