HC Deb 20 January 1993 vol 217 cc365-6
5. Sir Thomas Arnold

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister for Trade to the People's Republic of China.

The Minister for Trade (Mr. Richard Needham)

I made a visit to Guangzhou between 3 and 5 January with a team of 20 senior business men, to pursue important opportunities in the fastest-growing region of the world. I made clear our long-term commitment to a significant expansion of trade between the United Kingdom and China. Our substantial commercial presence in Hong Kong has a vital role to play in this process.

Sir Thomas Arnold

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his successful journey, which was made at a difficult time for Anglo-Chinese relations. Does he believe that British business is taking full advantage of the opportunities that China has to offer?

Mr. Needham

I do not think that we are taking full advantage, but we are taking much greater advantage than we were even a year ago. As my hon. Friend said, there are immense opportunities for British business in China. We have a long trading relationship with the country, which is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. It is a market which we must and will enter and I am sure that we shall be successful in it.

Mr. Bell

The Minister will be aware that we have sold nose-cone radar for fighter aircraft to the Republic of China. Last time the issue was raised in the House, he told us that there was a ban on arms trade. Is that ban extant?

Mr. Needham

Yes, Madam.

Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman

Will my hon. Friend ensure that a rather vociferous and sometimes short-sighted minority in Hong Kong does not imperil our relations with the Republic of China, on which so many jobs and so much else will depend in the future?

Mr. Needham

The governor's proposals for the 1992 elections strike me as entirely consistent with both the Basic Law and the joint declaration. China has been invited to discuss those proposals with us; in the mean time, our trade with China continues. The vice-premier of China, Zhu Rongji, and the mayors of Suzhou and Shanghai have recently visited this country and I have every confidence that business between our two countries will continue to grow.