(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-18 07:37

China Daily's Zhang Haizhou talks with Jim Hoare and Kerry Brown ahead of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to China.

Jim Hoare was a member of Britain's diplomatic service from 1969 to 2003, serving in Seoul and Beijing, and finally as British charge d'affaires in Pyongyang.

Kerry Brown is a researcher on China issues at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

Q: Why do you think British Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided it was the right time to visit?

Hoare: China has been important to Britain for more than 200 years. Indeed, China's importance has grown even greater in recent years, especially as its economy has developed and expanded.

There are also political matters. China and Britain are both concerned about international issues such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear issue.

Britain still has a considerable interest in Hong Kong and its development as a special administrative region.

In these circumstances, it seems quite natural that Brown should seek an early opportunity to visit China.

Brown: Probably because he realizes that China's economic growth is key to world growth, especially in view of the possible down turn being experienced in the United States and the European Union at the moment, and because he has seen frequent visitors to China from Germany and France. Therefore, having been to the US, China should be next on his list.

Q: How do you view Gordon Brown's policies toward China?

Brown: I think he is interested in China's economy, the changes in its structure, China's integration into the global economy, along with India, and finding ways in, for instance, technical development, where the UK and China can work together.

Q: Many British entrepreneurs will accompany the prime minister, what signal do you think he is sending to China?

Hoare: The signal is that trade and investment matters to both Britain and China and that Britain is anxious to play an increasing role in China's economic development.

Brown: We have been running a deficit in China for many years. We should do better in China. We need to sell more of our financial services there, for a start - and we need to be more of a technical partner. But along with EU partners, we still experience market access problems and so on. This will be a major part of what Brown will want to talk about in China.

Q: Chinese entrepreneurs are having a hard time in continental Europe because of anti-dumping related bills. What is the UK's attitude toward this bearing in mind it is a pioneer in free trade?

Hoare: To some extent, Britain's reactions are affected by our membership of the EU. There have to be rules and regulations so that we are all playing by the same rules.

Brown: There are major issues with market access - the deficit with China is becoming a major political problem, and may well lead toward protectionism in the US and EU. This is something we must be wary of in 2008.

Q: How should the two countries cooperate on the Olympic Games and what do you think the two should learn from each other?

Hoare: London will be watching carefully for lessons to be learnt from the Beijing Olympics in all sorts of areas, including transport and the management of large numbers of people.

I would expect that officials from the London Olympic team will be visiting China during the Olympics and also following up after the Games with enquiries about problems and difficulties so to avoid repeating these in London.

But each set of Games is unique, because each country and city is unique in the way they view the Games.

Brown: London can learn a lot from how Beijing will deliver the Olympics, and I know that the British government is putting a lot of effort in this area.

Q: London is due to hold the biggest ever Chinese cultural festival during the forthcoming Chinese New Year. What has Chinese culture brought to life in UK?

Hoare: The presence of Chinese people in Britain goes back to the beginning of our relationship. There are "Chinatowns" in a number of British cities, including London.

The most obvious way that Chinese culture has influenced Britain is through the food. There are Chinese restaurants everywhere from north to south, east to west, and the best of these are among the finest restaurants in the world.

Chinese methods of preparing food have also spread beyond Chinese restaurants, and traditional Chinese ingredients are widely available and are used by people who have no idea that they are using "Chinese" materials.

Chinese studies play an important part at both secondary and university levels of education, and many people study the Chinese language just for fun.

Chinese films are enjoyed by a select audience but many, such as Raise the Red Lantern, and many martial arts films can be seen on British television as well as in the cinemas.

Chinese theater is known at least in big cities, and Chinese circus performances are always guaranteed good audiences. Even people who know little about China or the Chinese enjoy events such as the Chinese New Year, which bring a touch of excitement to winter streets.

Q: There is criticism that British universities are making money through enrolling overseas students including from China. What are your views on this?

Brown: If people meet entry requirements, and can pay their fees, then universities here will take them. It's true, universities in the UK are very reliant on overseas Chinese fees, and it sometimes surprises me at the standard of the English of some of the Chinese studying here.

But this is a very recent phenomenon. I think a lot of Chinese studying here have found it rewarding and enriching. And British people have been able to learn much more about China and the Chinese because of their presence here.

Q: How do you view the prospects of cooperation between the UK and China on fighting climate change and other environmental issues?

Hoare: If climate change continues at its present pace, our children and grandchildren will suffer badly.

I can appreciate that to see the Western world still consuming large amounts of oil etc while calling on China to reduce is not equitable.

But the problem remains that if we do not reduce our consumption, then none of us will benefit in the long run.

(China Daily 01/18/2008 page9)