HC Deb 08 June 1988 vol 134 c834
7. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role his Department is playing in promoting economic and trade relations with the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Eggar

We work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry to help British exporters. British companies have won substantial contracts financed at concessional rates under our bilateral aid programme. The claims agreement signed with China in 1987 has opened access for China to the London capital market.

Mr. Shaw

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that British business men are doing enough in this respect and taking advantage of all the opportunities that his Department is opening up? Does he think that if more was done by British business men the economies and jobs of both countries would benefit?

Mr. Eggar

We welcome the considerable commitment that has been made by British business. More than 2,500 British business men visited our posts in China in 1986. There are more than 20 companies with permanent representative offices and we have no fewer than 11 United Kingdom-based commercial staff in Shanghai and Beijing.

Mr. Mullin

Does the Minister have any plans for raising with the Chinese Government the issue of human rights in that country; or ant I being naive?

Mr. Eggar

I would not want to comment on the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, but human rights and other issues are discussed when my right hon. and learned Friend meets representatives of the Chinese Government.

Mr. Roger King

Does my hon. Friend agree that we are seeing in China a degree of reform in its economic policies by the concentration of economic growth on a growing number of small business men? Is not that factor very much to the fore in this country and can we not export some of our economic reforms under Thatcherism to China?

Mr. Eggar

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. There has been a considerable resurgence in economic activity in China and it is largely due to the liberalisation reforms that have been introduced by that Government. The economic policies propounded by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister have been followed not only in China, but throughout the world.