旅英日记

I’m delighted to have this opportunity to send you my warmest wishes for the Chinese New Year.

The year for rat will be a momentous one for China. Your country will host the Olympic Games in August. The world will see how fast China’s developed in three decades of reform.

During my visit last month I witnessed the vision of the Beijing Games becoming a reality. And I hope this Olympics will be the best ever, and I’m proud that you’ll be passing the Olympic torch to us, as the Games close.

And I believe 2008 will be an auspicious year for relationships between the China I know and the UK I know.

We both believe in the benefits of globalization. It was clear to me on my visit that our economic strengths are complementary. The UK is a hub for global services while China’s a powerhouse in manufacturing. We’re both centres for innovation and entrepreneurship. We both benefit from open trade and investment. We’re both finding greater and greater opportunities in each other’s economies. We’re becoming more and more interdependent economically.

I particularly welcome the growing contacts between our young people - the new and expanded initiatives to bring more Chinese students to the UK and to give British students more opportunity to experience China first hand. And I’m committed to looking at how we can increase even further the teaching of English in China and Chinese in the UK.

Hong Kong provides a very special connection between us. Since 1997, it has truly become a bridge, not a barrier, to better relations. I continue to wish the people of Hong Kong my very best, as we move forward, maintaining international support for economic openness, and ensuring the development is sustainable. These are two significant challenges ahead.

Climate change threatens all our interests. And I’m committed to working closely with your leaders to find new ways of reconciling, economic growth with environmental responsibility. I firmly believe this can be an economic opportunity, and not a threat.

During my visit I also welcomed the public statement of support by China for the Millennium Development Goals. Reaching these goals continues to be a key objective for this government. China’s rapid growth in trade with developing countries - as well as increased development assistance from China - can be a real force for good, and helping the international community achieve this. And it’s equally important that we understand each other’s cultures if we are to collaborate effectively to meet these global challenges.

I give my wholehearted support to the forthcoming ‘China Now’ festival. It’s the largest ever celebration of Chinese culture in the UK, and one which I’m sure will showcase the very best of modern China.

So, as the New Year approaches, I wish you and your families all happiness. I wish you good health and good fortune for the year ahead.