challenging british perceptions of china 50 years of sacu · symposium at king’s college london...

Report ofSociety for Anglo-Chinese Understanding’s

50th Anniversary Symposium

Challenging British Perceptions of China

50 Years of SACU

30 May 2015King’s College London, Strand Campus

Organised in conjunction with the Lau China Institute, King’s College London

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SACU’S MISSION

•TopromotefriendshipandmutualunderstandingbetweenthepeoplesofBritainandChina.

•ToprovidefactsandanalysisaboutChina-notuncriticallybutalwaysfromafirmbasisoffriendship.

•TohelptheBritishpeopleunderstandthemeaningofChina-pastandpresent.

CPAFFCgifttoSACU

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…..’China is not simply a different country from our own…but a basically different civilisation. There is a much greater gulf of fundamental assumptions to be bridged as well as the fascinating differences that arise in the philosophy, art, landscape, language, religion, customs and so on. This requires a real effort towards understanding, the very purpose of our new Society.’ Joseph Needham, SACU’s Inaugural Meeting, 15 May 1965

JosephNeedham(1900-1995)ontherightinthisphotograph,meetsHuDingyi,ChineseAmbassador,andXieHeng

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IntroductionThemesoftheSymposium:RichardPoxtonOpeningAddress:HisExcellencyAmbassadorLiuXiaoming

CPAFFCPresentationtoSACU

SpeakersPanel1:TheSACUExperienceChair:DrRalphParfect,ActingDirector,LauChinaInstitute,King’sCollegeLondon

•JohnGittings,formerGuardianChinacorrespondent•ProfessorTomBuchanon,UniversityofOxford•ProfessorJianjunMei,Director,NeedhamResearchInstitute

SallyandRichardGreenhillslideshowof1971SACUTourintroducedbyMichaelSheringham,MeridianSociety

Address:MrSongJingwu,VicePresident,ChinesePeople’sAssociationforFriendshipwithForeignCountries(CPAFFC)

Address:ProfessorSunHua,ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies,PekingUniversity-sponsoroftheEssayPrize

PresentationofPrizeSACUPlansforGoldenYear:ZoeReedGeorgeHoggFundLaunch:JennyClegg

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CONteNtS

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PractitionersPanel2:UnderstandingChina-thewhats,thewhysandthehow

Chair:SamBeatson,LauChinaInstitute,King’sCollegeLondon

•ProfessorKerryBrown,UniversityofSydney•GlynFord,formerLabourMEP•SteveLau,Chair,ChineseinBritainForum•ProfessorJudeHowell,LSE•GrahamPerry,formerSACUViceChair

AttendanceListSponsorsandAcknowledgements

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INtrOdUCtION

On30May2015theSocietyforAnglo-ChineseUnderstandingheldasymposiumatKing’sCollegeLondontocelebrate50yearsofchallengingBritishperceptionsofChina.Attheinauguralmeetingon15May1965JosephNeedham,oneoftheprincipalfounders,emphasisedthatasChinawasnotjustadifferentcountrybutadifferentcivilisationwhatwasrequiredwas“agenuineefforttowardsunderstanding”.

SACUorganisedaday-longprogrammeofdiscussionanddebatetoexplorehowunderstandinghadfaredoverthepast50yearsandtheprospectsforthefuture.SACUmembersandotherguestsgatheredtoheardifferentperspectivesandtogivetheirviews.TheChineseAmbassador,HisExcellencyAmbassadorLiuXiaoming,andMrSongJingwu,VicePresident,ChinesePeople’sAssociationforFriendshipwithForeignCountries,attendedtopaytheirowntributes.Otherssentinmessagesofsupport.TheeventwasorganisedinconjunctionwiththeLauChinaInstituteofKing’sCollegeLondon,andsupportedbyanumberofsponsorsanddonations.

ZoeReed,SACUChair,beganthedaybywelcomingsome150membersandgueststotheSymposium.Asouvenirprogrammewasprovidedtoallthosepresentattheevent.AsummaryoftheeventwaslaterpublishedinChinaEye,Issue(47),Autumn2015.

Membersandguestsgatheringforthesymposium

ZoeReed,SACUChair,welcomesdelegates

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theMeS Of the SyMpOSIUM:rIChArd pOxtON

Thisaccountseekstocapturethethemesofthevariouscontributions.ThefocusofthedaywasonunderstandingandonchallengingmisunderstandingsofChinafromtheUKperspective.ItwasalsoconcernedwiththechangingroleofSACUoverits50years,thecurrentchallengesandhowtheorganisationshouldaddressthefuture.AtitsfoundationSACUhadalargeandinfluentialmembership,andrepresentedoneoftheveryfewconduitsintoadialoguewithChina.Allthathaschangedintheintervening50years:therearemanydifferentmeansofengagingwithChinaandChinesematters.SACUisnowasmallplayerinthisscenario,withrelativelyfewactivemembers,andsucceedsthroughthehardworkofafewhighly-committedvolunteers.ButunderstandingChinaremainsanimportantissue,andarguablyonewhereprogressshouldbesoughtnotleasttoovercomethesteadyflowofgenerallynegativenewsstoriesfromChinaintheUKpress.

SinceitsbeginningsSACUhasbeencloselylinkedwithJosephNeedham–hewaskeytoestablishingtheorganisationandhisnamehasensuredaprominenceathomeandabroadthatotherwisemayhaveslippedaway.HisongoinggreatworkofScienceandCivilisationinChinaisitselfamajorexampleofenablingabetterunderstandingastheresultofaconsideredapproach:ithelpedtransformthewaytheWestthinksaboutChinapastandpresent,itshistory,cultureanddevelopment.NeedhamrevealedtheimmensedebtthatWesterncivilisationowedtoChina,andshowedtheimportanceofexaminingChinese(andother)localtraditionsofscienceandknowledge.InmanywayshisunderstandingofChinesecivilisationchangedthewayeducatedpeopleacrosstheworldthoughtaboutitsdevelopment.

Nowafter50years,astheAmbassadorpointedout,SACUwasinpossessionofthe‘Confucianmandate’tocontinuetoadvanceunderstandingandfriendship,andtobridgethegapsandstrengthenthebonds.Animportantpurposeofthesymposiumwastoidentifypracticalwaysforwardandtorenewpersonalcommitments.

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Developments Over 50 Years In1965WesterngovernmentswerelargelydistrustfulofChinaasglobalpoliticsengagedinColdWarandmoredirectconflictinVietnam.ThefoundersofSACUatfirstsoughttofocusmoreoncultureandcivilisationthanonpolitics,toattractsupportfrominfluentialpeopleinBritain.SACUistothisdayrenownedfororganisingandleadingsomeoftheearlytouristvisitstoChina.ItwasprobablyduetothegoodnameperceivedinChinaofNeedhamandothersthatinvolvementwithSACUbecameavitalmeansofgettingintoChina.Needham’spersonalarchivesholdmanyrequestsfrompeopleunknowntohimwhowantedhisreferenceinordertovisitthecountry–mostofwhichhedealtwithpersonally.

In1971duringtheCulturalRevolutionSACUorganisedadelegationtoChina.BeingafriendofChinawasfarfromstraightforwardforthoseonthetrip:suchdelegationswerecarefullyguidedandparticipantsdidnotgetafullpictureofwhatwashappeningduringthisdifficulttime.WhilstinChinaitwasannouncedthataUSAtabletennisteamwouldvisitChina–pingpongdiplomacywasonitswayandpandaswouldnotbefarbehind.Tourmembersgavepositiveifpartialreportsbackonwhattheyhadseen.

Oncediplomaticrelationswererestoredbetweenthetwocountries[1972],theBritishGovernmentwasconcernedtopromotewhatlinksitcould.WithofficialsupporttheGreatBritainChinaCentrewassetup[1974]asanalternativetothemoreindependentandhighly-successfulSACU.

Inthe1980stheatmospherewasmorepositive,atleastuntil1989.Changesweretakingplaceonthegroundamidstgreaterdebateanddiscussionaboutmodernisation.SACUcontinuedtopromotetourstoChina,increasinglybeyondwhathadnowbecomeamoreestablishedgeneraltouristroute.SACUtourssoughtadeeperunderstandingofwhatwashappeningindifferentpartsofChina,beyondthegrowinginterestincommerciallinks.Perhapsthepromotionofthatgreaterunderstandingwasmoreimportantinthelongertermthanwhateverinsightsmayhavebeengainedatthetime.

BythistimeSACUwasnolongerpartofthemainstreamoflinksbetweenChinaandtheUKnotleastaseconomicandcommercialmattersbegan

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todominatetheagenda.Tourismitselfbecameanimportantbusiness,firstlyintoChinabutthenfromChinatotheWest.Politicsandeconomicsbecameinextricablyconnected,presentingevenmorecomplexchallengesofunderstandingforthosewhowantedtobepartoftheopportunitiesoffered.Humanrights,workers’rights,sustainabledevelopmentsandtheissueofTibetallpresentmajorhurdlesinthedevelopmentoftradingrelationsbetweenChinaandtheUKastheywerealsobetweenChinaandtheEuropeanUnion.ThesearehugechallengesthatemphasizetheimportanceofSACUbeingawareoftheissuesofthedaybutalsobeingrealisticintermsofwhatitcanaddressitself.

ThecampaignlaunchedbytheChineseinBritainorganisationtoerectamonumenttothememoryofthethousandsofChineselabourerswhoworkedalongsidetheAlliedforcesinthe1914-18Warwasagoodexampleofaprojecthelpingtopromoteunderstandinginapracticalway.SACUmemberswerelookingtopromotethecampaigninmodestpracticalwaysandindoingsosupportingtheworkofpeopleofChineseoriginnowsettledintheUK.OftenunheardUKcitizensofChineseoriginwerenowbeginningtofindtheirvoicesonissuesthatwerealsoofconcerntoSACU.ChinesepeopleintheUKwerenowacommonsightwhetherasresidents,studentsorvisitors.Convergencewastakingplaceintastesandinterestsespeciallyamongyoungerpeoplebutitwasalsoclearthatmythsandprejudicesstillexisted:misunderstandingswerestillevident.

Chinaitselfcontinuestomoderniseanddevelop.ItisdoingsoinadistinctivewaythatbothretainsaspectsofChineseculturewhilstincorporatingmanyWesterntraits.Itismorepluralisticandcomplexthanever,andstillhardtounderstand.TomanyWesterneyesthegovernmentappearsauthoritarianandconservative,yetthereisanevidentlooseningupofgovernanceaswellasawillingnesstotryoutsocial,economicandpoliticalreforms.TheChineseGovernmentislookingathowtheruleoflawworksintheUK.ProsperityandstabilityareasimportantinChinaaselsewhere.Itisimpossibletopredictthefuturehereaselsewherebutthepromotionofmutualunderstandingiscrucial,ratherthanthedeepmistrustwhichstillprevailsinUS/Chinaacademicrelationsforexample.

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SACU Today and Looking AheadItwasimportanttoconsidertheimplicationsofallofthisforSACUasasmallmembershiporganisationlookingaheadtoitsnext50years.TheattendanceandlivelydiscussionatthesymposiumshowedthattherewasstillakeeninterestinpromotingtheaimsofSACU.TheattendanceoftheAmbassadoranddelegationsfromChinashowedthattheorganisationstillhadsomerecognisedpositionandstatus.Therewerealsoimportantlocalpartnershipsevidentontheday,notleasttheKCLLauChinaInstitute’shostingandtheawardofaprizetoastudentfromJosephNeedham’sschool,Oundle.

InevitablyhowSACUshapeditsfuturewouldbeinfluencedbytheinterestsofthosewhowerepreparedtobeactivelyinvolved.Inadditionitwouldcontinuetosupportpartnerorganisationswithsimilaraims,suchasTheMeridianSocietyinLondon.

ThenameofSACUandtheNeedhamlegacygivetheorganisationtheopportunitytocontinuetomakeacontributiontothebigpictureofpromotingunderstandingofChinaintheUK.InpracticethewayforwardwasseentolieinthegreaterinvolvementinSACUofyoungerpeople.Thechallengesnowaredifferentfromthosein1965–inmanywaystougherbutalsomorepromising.ThenewperspectivesofpeoplewhohadgrownupinthedigitalageofasmallerworldwerecrucialtoenablingSACUtocontinuetohavetheambitiontocontinuetomakeanimpact.

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JaniceDickson,Chairman,Scotland-ChinaAssociation,congratulatesSACUonits50thanniversary

H.E.KojoAmoo-Gottfried,President,Ghana-ChinaFriendshipAssociation,congratulatesSACUonits50thanniversary

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OpeNINg AddreSS:hIS exCelleNCy AMbASSAdOr lIU xIAOMINg

HisExcellencyAmbassadorLiuXiaomingopenedtheSymposiumbycongratulatingSACUonitsachievementsinpromotingunderstandingbetweenthepeoplesofChinaandBritainoverthepast50years.WhilstbothChinaandtheinternationallandscapehadchangedprofoundly,buildingAnglo-Chineseunderstandingremainedanecessarytask.Hewentontoremarkthatnow,after50years,SACUwasinpossessionofthe‘Confucianmandate’tocontinuetoadvanceunderstandingandfriendship,tobridgegapsandstrengthenbonds,andhegaveSACUhisverybestwishes.

HisExcellencyAmbassadorLiuXiaominggivestheOpeningAddress

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The text of His Excellency Ambassador Liu Xiaoming’s speech:

Itisagreatdelighttojoinyoutocelebratethe50thanniversaryoftheSocietyforAnglo-ChineseUnderstanding.

Letmeoffermywarmestcongratulations!

IquiteadmirethenameofSACU.Ithighlightstheveryfoundationofstate-to-staterelations,whichis“understanding”.Asweoftensay,

Goodrelationshipbetweennationsisbuiltonfriendshipbetweenthepeople,

Andfriendshipbetweenthepeoplederivesfrommutualunderstanding.

Whileadmiringyourname,Iadmireevenmoreyourachievements.Youshouldbeproudofyourname.YoushouldbeproudevenmoreofwhatyouhaveachievedinpromotingAnglo-Chineseunderstandingalltheseyears.

Infact,understandingisaneternalthemeforbothChinaandBritain.

Backinthe1960s,theColdWarbetweentheEastandtheWestwasraging.ChinaandBritainwereyettohavefulldiplomaticrelations.

Butitwasrightthenthatagroupoflike-mindedBritonsdemonstratedextraordinarypoliticalcourageandforesight.ResolvedtobreakthroughthethickicybarriersoftheColdWar,theyfoundedtheSocietywhose50thbirthdaywearecelebratingtoday.

Overthepast50years,SACUhasbeencommittedtobetterunderstandingbetweenChinaandBritain,andbetweenthepeopleofourtwocountries.

•Youhaveworkedhardtoclearawaymisunderstandingsandbiases.•Youhaveorganisedexchangesofvisitsbetweenthetwocountries.•YouhavebeensharingstoriesoftherealChinawiththeBritishpublic.

BetweenChinaandBritain,andindeedbetweenChinaandtheWest,youare

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animportantplatformforunderstandingandachannelforexchangesandcooperation.WhatyouhavedonehasanimportantplaceinthehistoryofChina-UKrelations.

Fiftyyearson,theinternationallandscapehaschangedprofoundly.Chinainthisnewlandscapehaschangedbeyondrecognitionandcontinuesthedynamicchangewitheachpassingday.China-UKrelationshiphadalsomadeaquantumleap,fromchargéd’affaireleveltoambassadoriallevel,frompartnershiptocomprehensivestrategicpartnership.ExchangesbetweentheChineseandBritishpeoplearecloserthanever,deeperthaneverandmoreextensivethanever.

However,“understanding”remainsamajorsubjectbetweenChinaandBritain,andindeedbetweenChinaandtheWest.Tobefrank,WesternunderstandingofcontemporaryChinaisfarfromsufficient.Oldmisunderstandingsandbiasesmayhavedwindledbuttheyarereplacedwithnewones.

SomepeoplealwaysprefertoseeChinathroughcolouredlenses.WhatevertheyseeinChina,beitpeacefuldevelopmentpath,economicupgradingor“OneBelt,OneRoad”initiative,theywouldmakethesamenoises.Tothem,thesewouldalwaysbeasignof“Chinathreat”oranomenof“China’scollapse”.

TobuildAnglo-Chineseunderstanding–andindeedtoincreaseunderstandingbetweenChinaandtheWest–remainsalongandarduoustask.HistoryhasshownthatunderstandingisthefoundationandpreconditionforbuildingastablecomprehensivestrategicpartnershipbetweenChinaandtheUKinthelongrun.Onlydeeperunderstandingfostersdeepermutualtrust;onlydeepermutualtrustgeneratesdeepercooperation.

DrJosephNeedham,SACU’sfirstChairman,haddevotedhiswholelifetopromotingunderstandingofChina.Hiseffortshadnotjustimprovedtheworld’sunderstandingofthehistoryofscienceandtechnologyinChina.Moreimportantly,hehadhelpedfosterbetterunderstandingofChina’shistory,culture,socialsystemanddevelopmentpath.Hewascertainlyworthyofthe

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titleof“People’sFriendshipEnvoy”.Hewasagreatrolemodelforusall.

Confuciussaid,

“Atfifty,IknewthemandateofHeaven.”

Today,SACUturnsfifty.Onthisveryspecialday,IgiveSACUmybestwishesfromthebottomofmyheart.Ibelieveyounotonlyknowyourmandatebutarefullycommittedtoit.

ItisthemandatetoadvanceChina-UKunderstandingandfriendship.

Itisthemandatetocarryforward,inthisnewageandwithnewideas,theloftycauseofbridginggapsandstrengtheningbonds.

AnditisthemandatetohelptobuildtheedificeofAnglo-ChineseunderstandingandtowriteanewchapterforabetterandbrighterfutureofChina-UKrelationship.

Thankyou.

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CpAffC preSeNtAtION tO SACU

MrSongJingwu,VicePresident,ChinesePeople’sAssociationforFriendshipwithForeignCountries(CPAFFC)ledafive-persondelegationfromBeijing.HeconveyedamessageofcongratulationsfromtheCPAFFCPresident,MmeLiXiaolinandpresentedZoeReed,SACUChair,withthegiftofacommemorativeglassplate,engravedinbothEnglishandChinese.

PresentationtoZoeReed,SACUChair,ofgiftbySongJingwu,VicePresident,

ChinesePeople’sAssociationforFriendshipwithForeignCountries(CPAFFC)

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SpeAkerS pANel 1: the SACU experIeNCe

Chair:DrRalphParfect,ActingDirector,LauChinaInstitute,King’sCollegeLondon

•JohnGittings,formerGuardianChinacorrespondent•ProfessorTomBuchanan,UniversityofOxford•ProfessorJianjunMei,Director,NeedhamResearchInstitute

RalphParfect,LauChinaInstitute,chairsSpeakersPanel1

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jOhN gIttINgSfOrMer gUArdIAN ChINA COrreSpONdeNt

JohnGittingsreflectedonhisfirsttriptoChinaasamemberofthe1971SACUtour,andbeingshownthe‘NewAchievementsoftheCulturalRevolution.’Hereturnedin1981,leadinganotherSACUtour,tofindChinachangingrapidly,inadifferentandmorepositiveatmosphere,withlivelydebateaboutwhatdirectionChinashouldtake.Inconclusionheasked,“ButhowmuchdidweunderstandChina?HowlittledidweunderstandChina?HowhonestlydidweunderstandChina?Thesearethequestionswhichperhapsweshouldstillbeaskingtoday.”

About John Gittings

JohnGittingsisajournalistandauthorwhoismainlyknownforhisworkonmodernChina.JohnfirsttravelledtoChinawithSACUin1971andhaskeptinregularcontactwiththeorganisationovermanyyears.AfterteachingattheUniversityofWestminster,heworkedatTheGuardian(UK)fortwentyyearsaschiefforeignleader-writerandEastAsiaEditor(1983-2003).HeiscurrentlyaResearchAssociateattheChinaInstitute,SchoolofOrientalandAfricanStudies,UniversityofLondon,andanAssociateEditoroftheOxfordInternationalEncyclopaediaofPeace.Hisbook,TheGloriousArtofPeace:FromtheIliadtoIraq,waspublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressin2012.

JohnGittings

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The Text of John Gittings’ Talk

TherehavebeenhugeupheavalsinChinaoverthepast50yearssinceSACUwasfounded,hugeadvances,hugechanges,ahugetransformationateverylevel,economic,politicalandsocial.ButinthissessionwearenotgoingtotalkaboutwhathashappenedinChina;ourtaskistotalkaboutwhatweunderstood,orthoughtweunderstood,aboutwhatwashappeninginChina,whichisaverydifferentthing.ThisisafteralltheSocietyofAnglo-ChineseUnderstanding,andourpurposehasalwaysbeentounderstand,evenifthishasnotalwaysbeenaneasypurposetoachieve.

LetmebeginbyrecallingmyfirstvisittoChinainApril1971,asamemberofthesecondtourgroupsentoutbytheSocietyofAnglo-ChineseUnderstanding–itincludedSallyandRichardGreenhillwhosewonderfulphotographsyouaregoingtoseelater.ThiswasatapointintimewhentheCulturalRevolutionseemedtobewindingdown,althoughitwouldflareupagaintwoyearslater.

Whatdidweseeonthistour,orperhapsIshouldsay,whatdidwethinkthatwesaw?

IstillvividlyremembercrossingthebridgefromHongKongintoChinaonfoot,sinkingintodeeparmchairsontheothersidetomeetourChinesetourguides,andthenproceedinginaleisurelytrain–Chinesetrainsalwaysmovedataleisurelypacethen–towardsGuangzhou.Outsidewesawpaddyfields,smallhillswithlycheetrees,andpeasantsatworkwithredflagsaroundthem.

OurguideswereverykeentoshowuswhatwereofficiallycalledtheNewAchievementsoftheCulturalRevolution,(wenhuadagemingxinshengshiwu),andwewereverykeentobeshownthem.

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Therewastherevolutioninhealth–whichforuswasmanifestedespeciallybytheschemefortraining“barefootdoctors”toworkinthecountryside.

Therewastherevolutioninmanagement–thethree-waysystem(sanjiehe)bywhichthemanagementofafactorywasinthejointhandsofthemanagers,thetechnicians,andtheworkers.Oraschoolwasrunjointlybytheteachers,thestudentsandthelocalcommunity(intheoryatanyrate).

Andtherewastherevolutionineducation–withnewcurricula,openbookexams–iftherewereexamsatall,andthehugemovementtosendstudentswhichhadgraduated--the“educatedyouth”(zhishiqingnian)sentdowntothecountrysideorintofactoriestolearnwhatrealworkwaslike,andtocontributetheireducatedskillstothepeasantsandtotheworkers.

Embracingallthis,itseemedtous,wasacoherentdoctrineofwhatwasreferredtoasthe“socialisttransition”,acoordinatedefforttomovethewholeofsocietyinaparticulardirection.MaoZedonghadcriticisedtheSovietUnionforabandoningthistransition,andforbeingtoodogmaticandtooformalistic,forrelyingonemptywordsratherthanrealexperience.(WepaidparticularattentiontohisNotesonaSovietTextbookonPoliticalEconomyinwhichhemadethiscritique.)Wethought,orwehoped,thatChinawasavoidingthemistakesoftheSovietUnion.

Welookedingreatdetailatthethree-levelstructureofthepeople’scommunes,andwetriedtofindouthowthesystemofwork-points–rewardingpeopleaccordingtotheirworkbuttakingsocialfactorsintoaccount–actuallyfunctioned.WevisitedDazhai,wheretheaccountinglevelhadbeenmovedfromtheteamtothebrigadelevel,andwewereimpressedbythecommonsenseofthepeasantleaderswhomwemet.WewerelessimpressedbyalltheCommunistPartyofficialswhoturnedupfromtheprovinceandthecountytokeepaneyeonus.

Chinawasverymuchisolatedfrommostoftherestoftheworld.Whilewewerethereitwasannounced,sensationally,thatanAmericanping-pongteamwouldvisitChina.ThiswasthebeginningoftheprocesswhichwouldleaduptothevisitofUSPresidentNixontoChinaayearlaterthoughwedidnotknow

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thisatthetime.

OneofourguideswasaferventbelieverintheCulturalRevolution.WhenweheardthenewsabouttheAmericanteam,IsuggestedtohimthatthismightbefollowedupbyaChineseping-pongteamvisitingtheUS.

Hebecameveryagitated,almostangry.“Never!”hereplied,“Itwillneverhappen!Theymaycometous,butwewillnevergotothem”.

WereturnedtoEnglandandgavepositive,sometimesglowing,reportsofwhatwehadseeninChina.Indoingso,wesuppressedorplayeddowntheoccasionalglimpseswehadthatthingswerenotquitesowonderfulastheyseemed.

IrememberforexamplethatnearBeijingweweretakentoseeaunitofsoldierswhowerehelpingthepeasantsinthefields–ademonstrationofarmy-peopleunity.Thearmycommanderhimselfwasthere,amiddle-agedandratheroverweightofficer.Hepickedupahoetouseit,leantuponitandpromptlybrokeitinhalf.Wepretendednottonotice,andignoredtherealitythatheclearlyhadhadnoideawhattodowiththehoe,andthatthewholeeventwasstagedforourbenefit.

Onanotheroccasion,wevisitedagroupof“educatedyouth”fromBeijingUniversitywhowerequarteredinthecountrysidearoundYan’an.Wemetadoctorwhohadbeenassignedtoworkwiththem–theyhadtheirownmedicalteam–andaskedwhatkindofproblemsthestudentshad,supposingthattheymighthavephysicalproblemsresultingfromtheirhardmanuallabour.Theanswerwasthatthestudentswerephysicallyquitehealthy,butthatthemostcommonproblemwas“nervousdisease”–jingshenbing.Wefailedtoreflectonwhatthismighttellusaboutthestudents’realstateofmindonbeingsenttothecountryside–quiteoftenatthattime,supposedlyforlife.

Ihavealwaysregrettedeversincethatweweretooblindedbytheformalrequirementsof“friendship”tounderstandclearly,ortoreportfully,everythingwesaw.

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WedidnotliveuptoSACU’sowndeclaredaimwhich,asstatedin1965whenitwassetup,wastointerpretChinapositively,butnottoavoid“constructivecommentandsympatheticcriticisms.”

Letmemoveonnowto1980,whenIledanotherSACUtourtoChina–IalsomadeanumberofothervisitsinthoseearlyyearsafterthedeathofMaoZedongandthereturntopower

ofDengXiaoping.

The1980swereanexcitingdecade,bothbecausesomuchwashappeninginaverydifferentandmorepositiveatmosphere,andbecausenoonequiteknewinwhatdirectionthingswouldmove.Therewaslivelytheoreticaldebateanddiscussionaboutwhathadgonewrong,aboutwhatdirectionChinashouldtakeandthingswerechangingrapidlyonthegroundtoo.

TherewastheDemocracyWallinBeijing,encouragedforawhilebyMrDeng,whereallsortsofideaswereexpressedforthefutureandtalesweretoldaboutthedarksideofthepast.In1980Iwasluckyenoughtocoincidewithanexhibitionofmodernart,stagedbytheyoungartistsoftheStars,thexingxing,groupintheChinaArtGallerywithofficialapproval.

Inthecountryside,thefirststepswerebeingtakentogivebacktothevillage,oreventoindividualfarmers,theresponsibilityforfarmingtheland,thebaochandaodui,oreventhebaochandaohu,system.ButtherewasalsotalkoftryingtoretainthebestfeaturesofthePeople’sCommunesystem,orofbuildingnewandmoregenuinecooperatives.

Onthefactoryfloor,workersdiscussedhowtomakethepay-structure–theeightgradesystem–moreflexibleandmoreresponsivetotheactualeffortputintotheirwork.Buttherewasalsooppositiontowideningtheincomegap

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toofar,andoppositiontocreatinganewprivilegedclass.

Intheacademicworld,economistsandsocialscientistsbegantoholdseminarstoanalysethefailuresofthepastandMao’sownresponsibility,tolookmorecriticallyattheroleoftheCommunistParty,todiscussnewinterpretationsofwhatsocialismreallymeans,bothintermsofeconomicpolicyandintermsofpoliticalstructures,democracyandone-partyrule.

ThisnewworldofintellectualenquirywasfosteredandencouragedbythePartySecretary-GeneralHuYaobang,andmanyoftheargumentsappearedinthepagesofthePeople’sDailyandofseveralPartytheoreticaljournals.MarxistscholarssuchasProfessorSuShaozhiplayedanimportantpartinthesediscussions.

‘Withoutdemocracy’,hewrotein1980,therecanbenoeconomicmodernisation,noFourModernizations…Itisimportanttoensurethatthepeopletrulyhavethepowertomanagetheaffairsofthestateandoftheenterprises.”

InJune1986thePeople’sDailywouldpublishacommentaryunderthesignificanttitle:‘Therecanbenosocialistmodernizationwithoutsocialistdemocracy’.

TheChinesemediaalsobegantopublishwhatwemightcallexposéjournalism,goingdowntothegrassrootstomakeinvestigations,whatwasknownasbaogaowenxue,realreportingaboutrealpeople,exposingcorruptionandincompetence,pastandpresent.

SACUcontinuedtoplayaveryimportantroleinthe1980s.ManyotherforeigntourswerenowgoingtoChina,butincreasinglytheyfollowedwhatwasrapidlybecomingthestandardtouristroute,Beijing,Xi’an,TheThreeGorges,Guilinandsoon.TheSACUtourstriedtogofurther,togodeeper,tounderstandthenatureofwhatwashappeninginChinaateverylevelinsociety.AndatthisstagetheofficialChinesetravelagency,Luxingshe,andthevariousculturalbodiesandoffices,werestillverykeentohelpSACUdothis.

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WesterngovernmentsatthattimewereonthewholeonlyinterestedinChinafortworeasons:one,becauseChinawasanallyagainsttheSovietUnion;andtwo,becausetheChinesemarketwasbeginningtoopenup,withtheestablishmentofspecialeconomiczonesalongtheseaboard.

SACUwasinterestedinmuchmore,andittriedtocommunicatethisinterest,andthediversityofwhatwashappening,throughitsstudytours,andinarticleswrittenforChinaNow,andatregularmeetingsoftenheldintheHolbornCentralLibrary.

Ishallstophereinthe1980s,whichwas,speakingpersonally,themostexcitingtimeforthoseofusfollowingChina’sgreatrevolution.ButhowmuchdidweunderstandChina?HowlittledidweunderstandChina?HowhonestlydidweunderstandChina?Thesearethequestionswhichperhapsweshouldstillbeaskingtoday.

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prOfeSSOr tOM bUChANANUNIverSIty Of OxfOrd

ProfessorTomBuchanangaveanaccountofthehistoryandearlydevelopmentofSACU,basedonresearchforhisbook,EastWind:ChinaandtheBritishLeft,1925-1976,(2012).

About Professor Tom Buchanan

TomBuchananisProfessorofModernBritishandEuropeanHistoryattheDepartmentforContinuingEducation,UniversityofOxford.HeworksontwentiethcenturyBritishandEuropeanhistory,withanemphasisontheimpactofexternaleventsonBritishpolitics.Specialistareasinclude:theimpactoftheSpanishCivilWaronBritain;ChinaandtheBritishleft;andthehistoryofAmnestyInternationalandhumanrightscampaigninginBritain.Hisbook,EastWind:ChinaandtheBritishLeft,1925-1976,waspublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressin2012.ItprovidesthemostthoroughgoingworkonthehistoryofSACU.

ProfessorTomBuchanan

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An Account of Professor Tom Buchanan’s Talk

ProfessorTomBuchanangaveanaccountofSACU’sstormybeginnings,basedonresearchforhisbook,EastWind:ChinaandtheBritishLeft,1925-1976,(2012).HecommentedonthelonghistoryofsolidaritywithChinafromtheBritishLeft,andtheparallelsbetweenthewarinSpaininthelater1930sandthatinChina.Forhisresearch,ProfessorBuchananmetJimPenningtoninCheltenhamandwasgivenaccesstoSACU’sarchives.[JimPenningtonwasalong-standingSACUmemberandaformerSACUChairwhowasalsoinstrumentalintwinningCheltenhamwithWeihai.]Tomcommentedthatthearchivepapersincludedaboxentitled,“Resignations”whichhadprovedfascinatingreading!

ChinawasavictimofBritishimperialismandthenofJapaneseandAmericanaggression.However,after1949Chinagraduallyemergedasapowerfulstate.ThewarwithIndia1962establishedChinaasaregionalpowerbutthiswasdifficultfortheBritishLeft;whichadmiredboth;theyhadtochoosebetweenthem.BritishsympathyforChinacouldnolongerbetakenforgrantedandthishasbeenachallengeforSACU.

TheBritishChinaFriendshipAssociation(BCFA)–establishedin1949-wasunderthecontroloftheCommunistPartyofGreatBritainandkeymemberswereMoscowadherents,seeingChinaasasecondfiddletotheSovietUnion.

ForJosephNeedhamandotherstheprioritywasChina.SACUwasnottobeanotherpolitically-dominatedorganisationbutwastoinvolveprominentfigureswithanadmirationforChinesecultureandinterestedinexplainingChinatothewiderworld.Buttheworldwaschangingfastand,afterasuccessfulstartinMay1965,thelaunchoftheCulturalRevolutionsoonbroughtmatterstoacrisispoint.

SACU’sunitywasunderminedasthoseprimarilyinterestedinculturebecameincreasingly

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unwillingtobeassociatedwiththisnewturnofevents.Someleft,butothernewmembers,manyfromtheradicalizedstudentmovementjoined,andSACUsoughttodefendChinaagainstanincreasinglyhostileWesternpress.

Despitetheturmoil,intheearly1970sSACUwasprobablyatthepeakofitsinfluence.WithstillnoAmbassadorialrelationsbetweenBritainandChina,SACUwastheprincipalpointofculturalcontactbetweenthetwocountries:organisingtoursforgroupsofacademics,journalistsandstudents.However,theworldturnedagainwithNixon’svisittoBeijing.TheBritishEstablishment,realizingthatSACU,anorganisationnowleaningtowardstheLeft,wasinpolepositionwithregardtoculturalrelationswithChina,tooktheinitiative,oncefulldiplomaticrelationshadbeenrestored[1972],tosetuptheGreatBritainChinaCommittee(GBCC).Thiscommitteeofthe‘GreatandtheGood’(withtheForeignOfficediscretelyinthebackground)wasintendedtomarginalizeSACU.ToursbecameincreasinglyimportantforSACU,butbythe1980s,withtheGBCCononesideandtheestablishmentofcommercialcompanieslikeVoyagesJulesVerne,ontheother,theorganisationwasbeingsqueezedinapincer.Fromthemid-70stheleft-wingersinSACUwereonthebackfoot,especiallyafterDengXiaoping’sadoptionofeconomicreformsandtheopendoorpolicy.

The1980SACUdelegationtoChinareportedthat,“theChinesehosts’maininterestwasineconomicconstruction,whereasourswasinpolitics.”Onavisittoafactory,theyreportedseeinglargepostersadvocating“TotalQualityControl”,whichthesedelegatessawas“capitalistconcepts”.SACUbegantolosesupportfromtheBritishLeft,atrendwhichcametoaheadin1989[withtheTiananmenSquareprotests].

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prOfeSSOr jIANjUN MeIdIreCtOr, NeedhAM reSeArCh INStItUte

ProfessorJianjunMeiconsideredthelegacyofDrJosephNeedham,afounderofSACU.He“devotedhislifetimeeffortsnotjusttowritinghismonumentalseries,ScienceandCivilisationinChina,butalsotopromotingadeeperunderstandingofChinainarapidlychangingworld.”TheNeedhamResearchInstitutewasjustabouttocommemoratethetwentiethanniversaryofDrNeedham’sdeath.

About Professor Jianjun Mei

ProfessorJianjunMeiistheDirectoroftheNeedhamResearchInstituteinCambridge;PresidentoftheInternationalSocietyfortheHistoryofEastAsianScience,TechnologyandMedicine;FellowofChurchillCollege;andFellowoftheMcDonaldInstituteforArchaeologicalResearch,UniversityofCambridge.Heisanarchaeo-metallurgistspecializingintheoriginsandroleofmetallurgyinEarlyChina,andculturalinteractionsbetweenChinaandtheWest.Inrecentyearshehasbeenaleadingmemberoftheteamformedtowritethevolumeonnon-ferrousmetallurgyfortheScienceandCivilisationinChinaseries,foundedbyJosephNeedham.

ProfessorJianjunMei,Director,NeedhamResearchInstitute

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The Text of Professor of Jianjun Mei’s Talk

Iamverypleasedandhonouredtobeinvitedtojointoday’seventandtobegivenachancetospeakhere.Firstofall,IwishtorepresenttheNeedhamResearchInstitutetoofferourwarmcongratulationstoSACUforasuccessful50years.Overthepast50years,SACUhasmadeconsiderablecontributionsinmanyformstoabetterunderstandingofChinainBritain.DrJosephNeedham,afounderofSACU,devotedhislifetimeeffortsnotjusttowritinghismonumentalseries,ScienceandCivilisationinChina,butalsotopromotingadeeperunderstandingofChinainarapidlychangingworld.Therefore,attheeventtocelebratethe50thanniversaryofthefoundingofSACU,itisagoodoccasionforustoshowourdeeprespecttoDrNeedham,andtoreflectonhisintellectualheritage.

ThemostobviousintellectualheritageofDrNeedham’slegacyisofcoursehismulti-volumesandmonumentalseries,ScienceandCivilisationinChina,namelySCC.25volumeshavebeenpublishedsofarand3morevolumesareintheprocessofwritingandproduction.Thisserieshasbeenhailedas“enormouslyinfluentialinintegratingChinaintoworldhistory,andinshapingtheideaofChinaamongtheeducatedpublicinbothEastandWest”,“thegreatestsingleactofhistoricalsynthesisandinter-culturalcommunicationeverattempted”,andthatit“effectivelychangedthewaytheworldunderstoodthedevelopmentofscience.”ThroughSCC,NeedhamhassuccessfullyrevealedtoustheimmensedebtWesterncivilizationowedtoChina.

DrNeedhamhadtwobasicbeliefs.Thefirstisthatmodernscienceisnotjust‘Western’but‘universal’:localtraditionalsciencesdiscoveredtruthsaboutthenaturalworldthateventuallyflowedintomodernscienceasriversintothesea.ThesecondisthatChinawasalocalitywhosetraditionalsciencecanbeshowntohavecontributedsignificantlytotheevolutionofmodernscience.ThesetwobeliefsaredeeplyrootedinmanyofDrNeedham’swritingsonthedevelopmentofscienceandtechnologyinChina.

Aswecansee,Needham’sworkarosefromaclearneedtorecognisethe

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importantcontributionsChinesecivilizationmadetotheworld.ItwasapioneeringefforttoexaminethedevelopmentofscienceandcivilizationinChinainamostsystematicanddetailedway,andtoseriouslychallengetheEurocentrismwhichwasprevalentduringthe1940s-50s.DrNeedhamactuallyfoundedanewacademicsubfield,EastAsianHistoryofScience,TechnologyandMedicine.Henotonlyinspiredmanyyoungscholarstoenterintothisnewfield,butalsodemonstratedthenecessityandimportanceofstudyinglocaltraditionsofscienceorknowledgesystemsallovertheworldintheirownright.IwasamongmanyyoungscholarswhobecameinterestedintheChinesehistoryofscienceandtechnologybecauseofreadingDrNeedham’sbook.FewacademichistoriansarecomparabletoDrNeedham,whohasinfluencedtheideasofsomanyeducatedpeoplearoundtheworldandtransformedtheirunderstandingsofthedevelopmentofcivilizationsintheworld.

2015isthetwentiethanniversaryofDrNeedham’sdeath.TheNeedhamResearchInstituteisgoingtoorganiseaworkshoptocommemoratethisoccasion.TherewillbemorethantwentyscholarsfromallovertheworldcomingtoCambridgetoparticipateinthisevent.WehopethiswillprovideuswithachancetodiscussNeedham’sintellectualheritage.ThemissionoftheNeedhamResearchInstituteistopromotestudiesofEastAsianhistoryofscience,technologyandmedicine.Inabroadsense,weareworkingtowardsabetterunderstandingandmutualappreciationamongpeoplesacrosstheworld,especiallyforpromotingEast-Westinteraction.Iamconfidentthat,togetherwithSACUandmanyotherorganisations,NRIwillmakefurthercontributionstopromotingcommunicationsbetweenGreatBritainandChina.

Finally,IwouldliketooffermybestwishestoSACUforanothersuccessfulfiftyyears.

RaviBhoothalingam,SACUmember,joinsthediscussionfromthefloor

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SAlly ANd rIChArd greeNhIll SlIdeShOw Of 1971 SACU tOUr INtrOdUCed by

MIChAel SherINghAM, MerIdIAN SOCIety

MichaelSheringham,DirectorofTalks,MeridianSociety,introducedtheslideshowthatwastobeplayedduringthelunchbreak.SallyandRichardGreenhill,professionalphotographers,joinedanearlySACUTourin1971.MichaelSheringhamandJohnGittingswereonthesametour.ImagesofcontemporaryChinawererareatthattime.Theircolourfulphotographs,ofpeople,families,communes,nurseries,factories,streetscenes,countryside,capturedeverydaylifeanddidmuchtoshowachangingChinatotheoutsideworld.TheyweretomakemorevisitsinlaterdecadesandtheirworkhasbecomeavaluablerecordofdevelopmentsinChina.

MichaelSheringham,MeridianSociety,introducesSallyandRichardGreenhill’sslideshow

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AddreSS: Mr SONg jINgwU, vICe preSIdeNt, ChINeSe peOple’S ASSOCIAtION fOr

frIeNdShIp wIth fOreIgN COUNtrIeS (CpAffC)

MrSongJingwu,VicePresident,CPAFFC,saidthattheAssociationnowhadfriendlyandcooperativerelationswithnearly500non-governmentorganisationsorinstitutionsin157countries.RelationswithSACUwereestablished39yearsagowithnumerousexchangeshavingtakenplacesince.“NowChinaandUKareexpandingtradeandmakingmorefrequentpeople-to-peopleexchanges.Undersuchcircumstances,itisevenmoreimportantthatwepromotemutualunderstanding.”

The Text of Mr Song Jingwu’s speech

RespectedChairZoeReed,distinguishedguests,ladiesandgentlemen,

Goodafternoon.Todaywegatherheretocelebratethe50thanniversaryoftheestablishmentoftheSocietyforAnglo-ChineseUnderstanding.Firstofall,pleaseallowmetoextend,onbehalfoftheChinesePeople’sAssociationforFriendshipwithForeignCountries,sincerecongratulationstoSACU,andheartfeltthankstothepeopleinallwalksoflifewhohavelongendeavouredtopromoteChina-UKfriendship.

MrSongJingwu,VicePresident,CPAFFC,addressesthesymposium

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50yearsago,ChinaandUKwereyettoestablishambassadorialdiplomaticrelations,andmostWesterncountrieslackedunderstandingofChina.DrJosephNeedham,anoldfriendofChina,togetherwithhundredsofpeopleofvision,establishedSACUinLondonwithanaimtopresentarealChinatotheWesternworld,andtheUKinparticular,anddispeldiscriminationtowardsandmisunderstandingsaboutChina,whichhasgreatlycontributedtoChina-UKandChina-Europerelations.TheestablishmentofSACUshowsthegreatpoliticalcourageofDrNeedhamandothervisionarypeopleintheUKandtheiraspirationtostrengthenChina-UKfriendship.

39yearsago,asanorganisationengagedincarryingoutpeople-to-peopleexchangesandenhancingmutualunderstandingbetweendifferentpeoples,theCPAFFCestablishedfriendlyandcooperativerelationswithSACU.Thismorning,IhavelistenedcarefullytomanySACUmembers’storiesofChina,andtheyallhavetheirspecialexperiences.Thoughtheydifferinpoliticalpositionsandsocialbackground,theyshareonethingincommon:theyharbourdeepunderstandingofChina,andtheyendeavourtopromoteChina-UKrelations,whichgreatlymovedme.Inthe1970sand1980s,18delegationswereexchangedbetweenourtwoorganisations,whichjointlymadeenormouspioneeringworkforChina-UKpeople-to-peoplefriendship.In1978,theCPAFFC’sVicePresidentChuTunanledadelegationtotheUKandwasreceivedbyLordSpeakerJones.In1979,SACU’sVicePresident[Felix]GreeneledadelegationofBritishdignitariestoChinaandwasreceivedbyMrDengXiaoping.In2008,Chair[Zoe]ReedledadelegationtojointheBeijingOlympicGames.In2010,SACUsentadelegationtoparticipateintheSecondSino-EuropeanAgriculturalSeminar.In2014,VicePresidentJennyCleggandMrChrisHensonpaidaspecialvisittoChinatoattendourAssociation’s60thanniversary.Inthesameyear,CPAFFCVicePresidentLiJianpingledadelegationtotheUKandvisitedourfriends.AndthetwosidesreiteratedtheiraspirationstoworkcloselyforChina-UKlong-termfriendship.“Bosomfriendsmakedistancedisappear.”ThefriendlyexchangesandcooperationbetweenourtwoorganisationsarethebestexampleofthisancientChinesepoem.

Atpresent,theChina-UKcomprehensivestrategicpartnershipenjoysa

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soundmomentum,withever-increasingpracticalcooperationinallfieldsandadeeperpeople-to-peopleandculturalexchange.BothChinaandtheUnitedKingdom,withlonghistoriesanduniquecultures,havenotonlyleftrichlegaciesintheEasternandWesterncivilisations,butalsoprovidedpreciousresourcesforthetwopeoples’mutualunderstandingandfriendship.Thekeytosoundrelationsbetweenstatesliesintheaffinitybetweentheirpeoples,whichlargelystemsfrommutualunderstanding.Cultureshortensourdistanceandconnectsourhearts.NowChinaandUKareexpandingtradeandmakingmorefrequentpeople-to-peopleexchanges.Undersuchcircumstances,itisevenmoreimportantthatwepromotemutualunderstanding.

OurAssociationhasestablishedrelationshipsoffriendlycooperationwithnearly500non-governmentorganisationsandinstitutionsin157countries.Entrustedbythegovernment,wecoordinateandoverseetheworkofestablishinganddevelopingfriendship-cityrelationsbetweenChinaandothercountriesandpromoteexchangesandcooperationbetweentheirlocalitiesandcities.Uptonow,wehaveestablishedover2200pairsoffriendshipprovinces(states)andcities.WearewillingtoworkwithSACU,onthebasisofpeople-to-peopleexchanges,withanaimtoconnectpeople’shearts,promoteculturalmutuallearningbetweenthetwocountries,andenhancemutualunderstandingbetweenthetwopeoples,especiallyamongtheyoungergeneration.

Asamajorpartofhislife’seffort,DrNeedhamhadbuiltabridgeofunderstandingbetweentheEasternandWesterncultures,pushingourtwocountries’friendlycooperationmovingforwardcontinuously.Lookingintothefuture,undertheguidanceofDrNeedham’sspiritualwealth,let’stakethe50thanniversaryofSACUasanewstartingpoint,andworktogethertomakenewcontributionstotheChina-UKfriendshipandmutualunderstanding.

Mayourfriendshipbepassedonfromgenerationtogeneration.MaySACUenjoyabroaderprospect.

Thankyou.

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AddreSS: prOfeSSOr SUN hUA, ChINA CeNtre fOr edgAr SNOw StUdIeS, exeCUtIve deAN Of yUANpeI COllege, pekINg UNIverSIty -

SpONSOr Of the eSSAy prIze

ProfessorSunHua,ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies,PekingUniversity,spokeofDrJosephNeedham’saidtoChinaduringWorldWarII.HethenspokeofseveralBritishscholarswhomadegreatcontributionstoChina.FinallyhediscussedPekingUniversity’splanstopublishseveralworksbyBritishfriendsduringthefollowingyear[2016]tocommemoratethe80thanniversaryoftheLongMarch.

The Text of Professor Sun Hua’s Speech

RespectedChairmanZoeReed,Goodafternoonladiesandgentlemen.

TodayIamveryhonouredtoparticipateintheforumofthe50thanniversaryforSACU,andcommemorationforoneoftheoutstandingfriendsofChinesepeople,DrJosephNeedham.DuringWorldWarII,DrJosephNeedhamcametoaidChina.Hetravelledover5,000milesinChina,offeredsupporttotheChinesescientificcommunitybygivingmorethan7,000sciencebooksto

ProfessorSunHua,ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies,PekingUniversity

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Chineseuniversitiesandlibraries,andfundedmorethan60ChinesestudentstostudyinUK.Hisfamouswork,ScienceandCivilisationinChina,playedanimportantroleindisseminatingthesplendoursofChinesecivilisationtotheworld.

HefoundedSACU50yearsagoinordertohavemoreBritishpeopleunderstandthedifferentculturalbackgroundandthedifferentpoliticalsysteminChina.Onthebasisofhisfriendshipspirit,wehopewecouldbehelpfulforpeoplefromothercountriesoftheworldtobetterunderstandthedevelopmentandchangesinChinatoday.Itisthe70thanniversaryoftheAnti-FascistWarVictorythisyear.DrJennyClegg,whosefatherArthurCleggwastheleaderoftheChinaCampaignCommitteefromtheUKduringtheWorldWarII,madeseveralspeechesinPekingUniversityandotherChinaUniversities.WehopethatmoreandmoreyoungpeopletodaywillstarttounderstandtheInternationalfriendswhohelpedtobuildnewChinabycontributingtopeople-to-peopleexchanges;somethingthathasnowbecomemainstreaminInternationalrelationshipdevelopment.

Therefore,PekingUniversityiskeentobeinvolvedinthecelebrationtoday,aimingtoappreciatethescholarsfromUKwhohavemadegreatcontributionstous.From1920to1921,BertrandRussellgave5seriesoflecturesinPekingUniversityandwroteabook,TheProblemofChina.MrSunYat-senpraisedhimastheonlyWesternerwithacompleteunderstandingofChina.AfterthefoundingofnewChina,WilliamEmpson,whowasteachingShakespeareinPekingUniversity,washighlyrespectedbyhisstudents.GlynW.HumphreysfromtheUniversityofBirminghamhasbeenteachinginPekingUniversitysince2000,andopenedthedoortothestudyofPsychologyforthestudents.

IcomefromYuanpeiCollegeinPekingUniversity.IttakesaleadinChina’sundergraduateeducationreformandischaracterisedbyanundergraduatetutorialsystem.ThissystemwasestablishedinYanchingUniversitybyMrMichaelLindsayfromOxfordUniversityin1937.ThemostpopularmajorinYuanpeiCollegetodayisPhilosophy,PoliticsandEconomics(PPE),justthesameasMichaelLindsay’smajorinOxfordUniversity.HeplayedapioneeringroleinChinesehighereducation,andmadeanimportantcontributiontoChinesepeople’sAnti-JapaneseWaratthesametimeinYanchingUniversity.

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TherewerenumerousprofessorsfromtheUnitedKingdom.Theynotonlyactivelysupportedthestudentmovement,butalsoputpersonaldevotionintotheChinesenationalrevolution.PhysicsDepartmentDeanofYenchingUniversity,WilliamBand,leftthecampusfortheAnti-Japanesewarin1941withMichaelLindsay.RalphLapwoodjoined“GungHo”(whichweretheChineseIndustrialCooperatives)asanobserver.HaroldShadick,whohadbeenteachingShakespeareinYenchingUniversity,translatedShih-Chi(TheHistoricalRecords)whenimprisonedintheJapanesearmy’sprisoninWeifang,ShandongProvince,andalsoorganisedconcertstoencouragetheprisoners.

SincetheAnti-JapaneseWar,BritishfriendshavebeenactiveinraisingawarenessofChinatotheworldbypublishingbooksaboutthedevelopingnewChina,forexampleMichaelLindsay’sworks,NotesonEducationalProblemsinCommunistChina,1941–1947(1950),andChinaandtheColdWar:aStudyinInternationalPolitics(1955).

Inrecentyears,theInternationalFriendsBookSerieshasbeenpublished,includinganumberbyBritishfriends,suchasAidChina1937-1949:AMemoirofaForgottenCampaign,byArthurClegg,ISeeaNewChina,byGeorgeHogg,TheRestrainingHand:CaptivityforChristinChina,byRudolfAlfredBosshardt.

Nextyearisthe80thAnniversaryoftheLongMarchinChina.WewouldliketopublishseveralbooksbyBritishfriends,suchasDickWilson’sfamousbook,TheLongMarch1935:TheEpicofChineseCommunism’sSurvival.HewastheChiefEditorofTheChinaQuarterlyinSOAS,UniversityofLondon.Ifyouherehaveanyideasregardingpublications,youaremorethanwelcometomakesuggestions!

Fordecades,substantialChina–UKrelationshipdevelopmenthasbeenachieveddespitethemanyupsanddowns.TherelationshipbetweenChinaandUKhasneverbeencloserthantoday.ChinesepeopleandBritishpeoplewillbeabletobetterunderstandeachother,whichwasDrJosephNeedham’sdream.ItisexactlywhathewantedandwhatheandSACUspentsomanyyearsworkingtoward.Thankyou!

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preSeNtAtION Of prIze

ProfessorSunHua,ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies,PekingUniversity,introducedtheEssayCompetitionwhichwassponsoredjointlybyPekingUniversityandSACUforstudentsatOundleSchool(JosephNeedham’sformerschool).Studentswereaskedtodiscussthestatement,“JosephNeedhamremindedusthatweshouldunderstandthemeaningofChinabothpastandpresent.Discuss.”MinisterCounsellorXiangXiaoweipresentedthe£100prizetoMsAnnabelleBarker,studentatOundleSchool.[Annabelle’sessaywaslaterpublishedinChinaEye,Issue(47),Autumn2015.]

MinisterCounsellorXiangXiaoweipresentstheEssayPrizetoAnnabelleBarker,

studentatOundleSchool,JosephNeedham’sformerschool

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SACU plANS fOr gOldeN yeAr: zOe reed

ZoeReed,SACUChair,outlinedtheGoldenYearprogrammeofeventstobeheldoverthefollowingmonthstocelebrateSACU’s50thAnniversary.Informationwillbegivenonthesociety’swebsitewww.sacu.org,inChinaEye,bye-newsletterandonSACU’sFacebookandTwitterpages.

ZoeReed,SACUChair,outlinestheGoldenYearProgramme

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geOrge hOgg fUNd lAUNCh: jeNNy Clegg

DrJennyClegglaunchedtheGeorgeHoggEducationFund,namedinmemoryofGeorgeHogg.ThefundaddressesoneofSACU’skeyobjectives-topromoteandadvancetheeducationoftheChinesepeopleinaspectsofBritainandtheBritishpeople.

LittleknowntodayinhisowncountryofBritain,GeorgeHogg(1915-1945)hasalegendarystatusinChina’sNorthWestforhisworkinthewartimeco-operativemovementandlaterasaheadmasterofaschoolforwarorphans.HoggwenttoChinaaftergraduatingfromOxfordUniversityin1938,initiallyworkingasanindependentwarcorrespondentfortheAssociatedPress.In1939hebecameinvolved,throughRewiAlley,intheGungHoChineseIndustrialCo-operatives(CIC)movement,takingonthejobofheadmasteroftheBailieCo-operativetechnicaltrainingschoolinShuangshipu,ShanxiProvincein1942.In1944,toescapetheadvanceofwaracrossNorthChina,heledhis60orphanstudentsona700miles(1,100km)trekoversnow-boundmountainstoShandan,GansuProvince.Therehesetupanewschool,onlytodietragicallyoftetanusshortlyafter,agedjust30.

AkeyaspectofHogg’slegacywashiswarreportingwhicheschewedthe‘bloodandguts’style–tocapturetheeverydaylivesofChinesefolkinwartime.Hisbook,IseeaNewChina,publishedin1944,wasreceivedwithacclaimonbothsidesoftheAtlanticasa‘straightforwardandunpretentious’recordofChinaatwar,inwhich‘compassionandrespectfortheordinaryChinesepeople,andwiththisanoptimismaboutChina’sfuture,shinesthrough…nevermoresothaninhisdescriptionsofthevillagecooperativesandtheirmembers’

In2013,SACU’stour,‘IntheFootstepsofJosephNeedham’,visitedthepresentdayBailieSchoolinShandan,andalsoestablishedaformallinkwiththeInternationalCommitteeofCIC(ICCIC),revivedbyRewialleyin1997.

TheGeorgeHoggFundaimsto:promoteeducationalexchangebetweenlocalitiesandinstitutionsinBritainandChinawithaparticularassociation

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withGeorgeHoggandwillseektodisseminateunderstandingoftheRochdaleco-operativeprinciplesinChina.AtthesametimeitwillfurtherpromoteunderstandingofChinainBritainbyopeninganewwindowforSACUmemberstogettoknowmoreaboutlifeatthegrassrootslevelinChina.

ThefundwilloperatethroughSACU’sexistinglinkwiththeInternationalCommitteeforthePromotionofChineseIndustrialCooperatives(ICCIC),ofwhichtheShandanSchoolisamember.FinancingforthefundwillcomefromsourcesadditionaltoSACUmembership,raisedspecificallyforthesupportoftheproject.

SACU’swebsitewww.sacu.orghasfurtherinformationanddonationstotheGeorgeHoggFundcanbemadethroughthewebsite.

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prACtItIONerS pANel 2: UNderStANdINg ChINA – the whAtS, the whyS ANd the

hOwS

Chair:SamBeatson,LauChinaInstitute,King’sCollegeLondon•ProfessorKerryBrown,UniversityofSydney•GlynFord,formerLabourMEP•SteveLau,Chair,ChineseinBritainForum•ProfessorJudeHowell,LSE•GrahamPerry,formerSACUViceChair

Practitioners’Panel,lefttoright:GrahamPerry,SteveLau,ProfessorJudeHowell,ProfessorKerryBrown,GlynFord

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prOfeSSOr kerry brOwN, UNIverSIty Of SydNey

ProfessorKerryBrownspokeofthecomplexityoftryingtoexplainChina.ThereisashortageofsuitablewordsandalackofintellectualresourceswhendiscussingthepoliticsofChina.Hethenidentifiedanddiscussedthreethemesofthecurrentleadership:Urgency;GlobalChina;andOpportunities.

About Professor Kerry Brown

KerryBrownisProfessorofChinesePoliticsandDirectoroftheChinaStudiesCentreattheUniversityofSydney.HedirectedtheEuropeChinaResearchandAdviceNetworkfundedbytheEuropeanUnionfrom2011to2014andisanAssociateFellowontheAsiaProgrammeatChathamHouse,London.HismaininterestsareinthepoliticsandsocietyofmodernChina,itsinternationalrelationsandpoliticaleconomy.AfterjoiningtheForeignandCommonwealthOffice(FCO)in1998,heservedasFirstSecretary,Beijingfrom2000to2003.HeisaSeniorFellowoftheChinaPolicyInstituteatNottinghamUniversityandtheLSEIdeasCentre,aswellasbeinganaffiliatedscholarwiththeMongoliaandInnerAsianStudiesUnitatCambridgeUniversity.Hisrecentbook,TheNewEmperors:PowerandthePrincelingsinChina(I.B.Tauris,2014)hasbeenwidelyreviewed.

An Account of Professor Kerry Brown’s Talk

JosephNeedhamspokeofthehumancondition,thecommonalitywearealwaysreachingtowards.Youcannotengagewithanotherculturewithoutbeingchangedbyit.WeneedtoworktowardsgreaterunderstandingofideologyandpoliticaldecisionmakinginChina.ProfessorKerryBrownwasmoststruckbythepaucityofourvocabulariesandintellectualresourceswhentalkingaboutpoliticsinChina.WeneededtounderstandwhypeopleininstitutionsliketheChineseCommunistPartydothethingstheydo,andthecontextinwhichtheywork,ratherthanmakinghastingjudgementsattheoutsetjustbecauseofideologicalreservationswemighthavetowards

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one-partysystems.Whydopeoplebelievecertainthingsintheseinstitutions,andwhatisthenatureoftheirbelief?WhatdowereallyunderstandofthepoliticalcultureandthewayithasproducedsomeonelikeXiJinping?Tenyearsago,mostpeoplewouldnothavebelievedhewouldbecomethesortofleaderheis,whenhewasaprovincialfigure.

Lookingatthecurrentleadershipandthecontexttheyworkin,ProfessorKerryBrownidentifiedthreecharacteristicthemeswhichareworthtracking:SenseofurgencywithinChina;GlobalChina;andAttendantOpportunities.

Urgency.Thereisasenseofthisbeinganeraofurgency,theideaoftherebeinggoalsinthefuturewhichhavetobeachieved,andachievedquicklyforChinatomakeittothenextlevelofdevelopment.2049willbethecentennialofthefoundingofthePeople’sRepublicofChina.Reachingthisgoalwillgiverisetoasenseofpower,acountrythatisabouttofulfilitspotential,itsprojectofmodernity.Butthiswillnotbeanyeasytargettoreach.Crucialthingscouldhappenalongthispaththatupsetthings.Thiserawillbeonewhenlotsoftrickydecisionsneedtobemade,manyofwhichcouldgowrong.Sometimesactionsappearbrutal,butmadebecauseofanextraordinarysenseofpressure,ofpoliticalimperatives.Thiswillnotbeaneasypath.

Global China.ThisistherealeraoftheriseofglobalChina.Eventhemostseemingly-domesticissueswithinChinawillhavepotentialglobalreach.Chinesecitizens,all1.4billionofthem,willhaveanimpactindividuallyonthewayinwhichtheworlddevelops,economicallythroughtheirconsumptionspending,environmentallythroughtheiruseofenergy,andpolitically,throughthedecisionstheymakeaboutthediplomaticroletheywanttheircountrytoplay.Takeonestatisticthatshowsthewaysinwhichpeopleinside

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Chinaarereachingoutsidethecountryasneverbefore:between1949-1978therewere750,000journeysintoandoutofChina;lastyear[2014]therewere50million.

Opportunity.Thisisaneraofopportunity,collaborationandchallenge,forChinaandfortheoutsideworld.TheAsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank(AIIB)helditsfirstformalmeetingthismonth[May2015].TheAIIBwasaninitiativeofChinatosupportthebuildingofinfrastructureintheAsia-Pacificregion.Ithas57foundermembers,includingmanyWesterncountriessuchasUK,GermanyandFrance,butitsformationwasresistedbyUSA,JapanandCanada,andinitiallyalsobyAustralia.ThisissymptomaticofthenatureofproblemswhichoriginateinBeijing.Chinaistakingonanewguiseasaninternationalactor,andonetowhichthoseoutsideneedtobeflexible,pragmaticandcreativeinresponse.

ProfessorKerryBrownandGlynFord

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glyN fOrd, fOrMer lAbOUr Mep

GlynFordfocussedontheissueofEU-Chinarelations,notingtheunbalancedanddysfunctionalrelationshipbetweenthethreeglobalpowersofUSA,EuropeanUnionandChina.HeoutlinedthereasonswhytheEUdoesnotseriouslyengagewithChinabutarguedthatitisinEurope’sinteresttoseekamorebalancedrelationship“wherewesimultaneouslyco-operateandcompetewithbothBeijingandWashington.”

About Glyn Ford

GlynFordisanelectedMemberoftheBritishLabourParty’sNationalPolicyForum;afoundermemberofPolint,aUK-basedEUconsultancyfocussingonEuropeaninternalpolitics,internationalrelationsandinternationaltrade;andaBoardMemberoftheEuropeanInstituteforAsianStudies(EIAS)andtheNorthEastAsianEconomicForum(NEAEF).Forover25years,until2009,hewasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliamentforGreaterManchester,servingonboththeInternationalTradeandForeignAffairsCommittees,particularlyondossiersrelatedtoAsia,andactingas‘shadow’ontheEU-JapanandEU-Chinatradeagreements.PriortoenteringtheEuropeanParliament,hewasaSeniorResearchFellowintheUniversityofManchester’sDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyPolicyandwas,atvarioustimes,aVisitingFellow/ProfessorattheUniversityofSussex,theUniversityofTokyoandtheEast-WestCentreinHawaii.

The text of Glyn Ford’s talk

CanIthankSACUforthekindinvitationtospeaktoyoutodayonyour50thAnniversary.WhilemyinterestinChinadoesn’tquitestretchbacktoyourbeginningsitgets–formeatleast–surprisinglyclose.Afternearlyaquarterofacentury,I’vejustmovedhouseandinthemovediscoveredamongstotherthings,includingsomeearlySACUpamphlets,anarticlefromTonyBenn,entitled,China:landofstruggle,criticismandtransformation,publishedinNewScientistin1972(Vol.53,p10-12,6January1972)afteratriptoChina–I

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wonderifSACUwereinvolvedinitsorganisation-inwhichhearguedthatwecouldlearnfromChinatheneedtocompletelyre-examineourpoliciesandinstitutionalarchitecture.

IwasaLabourMEPfor25years,spendingmostofmytimeontheInternationalTradeandForeignAffairsCommittees.Immediatelypriortomyinitialelectionin1984,IwasaVisitingProfessoratTokyoUniversity,consequentlyIspecialisedinitiallyinJapanandthenincreasinglyinNorthEastAsia,Japan,ChinaandthetwoKoreas.ItwasintheseearlydaysthatIhadmyoneandonly–brief-conversationwithJosephNeedham.MymentorinJapanhadbeenDrShigeruNakayama,whowasafriendofThomasS.KuhntheauthorofthepathbreakingTheStructureofScientificRevolutions.DrNakayamawasintheUKandhegavemeanumbertocalltoarrangeforustomeet.WhenIcalleditwasNeedhamwhoansweredandputmethrough.EventhenIwasinawe.AfewyearsearlierIhadreviewedGaryWerskey’sTheVisibleCollege(1978,OUP)fortheBulletinoftheSocietyfortheStudyofLabourHistory(Spring,1980)whereNeedham’sexploitshadloomedlargeinthiscollectivebiographyofapantheonofBritishleft-wingscientistsincludingJBSHaldaneandJDBernal.

OverthirtyyearsonI’mstillinBrusselsworkingontradeandpoliticalissuesinEastAsia.Therealityisthatcurrentlytherearethreeglobalpowers:theUS,theEUandChina.Butthistriadofpowersisinanunbalancedanddysfunctionalrelationship.ToparaphraseBeijing,therelationshipbetweentheUSandtheEUis‘likelipsandteeth’,whiletheWashington–BeijingAxisshowsallthefeaturesofalove-haterelationshipwithChinatoothreateningtobeignoredandtoothreateningtobefullybefriended.ItistheEU–Chinarelationshipthatistheweaklegofthetriangle.

ThenexttwoyearswillbecrucialintermsofwhereEU-Chinarelationswillgointhecomingdecades.Atthemomentit’sacarcrashwaitingtohappenandthe‘friends’ofChinaareindenial.Nextmonth(June2015)wewillhavetheEU-ChinaSummitinBrussels,whereforthethirdtimeofaskingBeijingwillofferBrusselsaComprehensivePartnershipAgreementcoveringtrade,investmentandpoliticalco-operation.TheywanttheEUtoatleastexploretheoptionsfortheopeningofnegotiationsonapossibleEU–ChinaFree

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TradeAgreement(FTA).Yes,CommissionPresidentJean-ClaudeJunckerwillmaketherightnoises,whichwillbeechoedbyCouncilPresidentDonaldTusk,butabsolutelynothingwillhappen.

TheEUisneitherwillingnorabletoseriouslyengagewithChina.BrusselsisobsessedwithWashington.TheoverarchingpriorityistheconclusionoftheTransatlanticTradeandInvestmentPartnership(TTIP)withtheUS–althoughcivilsocietymayhavemoretosayaboutthatinthecomingmonths.WashingtonismoreinterestedintheTrans-PacificPartnership(TPP)dealwithJapan,andVietnam,MalaysiaandAustraliaamongstothersthatwilleffectively–whetherbyaccidentordesign–containBeijing.FormanyintheUSatleastit’sanattempttoisolateChina.OneistemptedtoaskwhichpartofthePacificisVietnamon?

China’sofferofaComprehensivePartnershipAgreementisBeijing’sattempttoreachouttotheEUtoofferare-balancingofBrussels’relationshipswithChinaandtheUS.ButtheEUpreferstocollaboratewiththepastratherthanpartnerthefuture.Moreover,withallthesensitivitiesthatexistbetweenChinaandJapan,theEUiseagerlyawaitingthepassageofJapanesePrimeMinisterAbe’snewDefenceguidelinestoengageinjointsecurityoperations.

WhileBrusselswillnotcountenanceanydiscussionsonaFTAwithBeijingeventhoughit’scurrentlyintheprocessofnegotiatingFTAswithJapan,IndiaandmostoftheASEANgroupofcountries,therearecurrentlytwotradeissuesontheAgendathatcannotbeavoided.Firstthereareon-goingnegotiationsonaEU-ChinaBilateralInvestmentTreaty(BIT),butthisisnotquitewhatitseemsasforsomethisisamackereldesignedtocatchasprat.Thebigpush–atleastintheEuropeanParliament(EP),ofwhichmorelater–wasaBITwithTaiwan.NowastheEUrespectsthe‘OneChina’Policythiswasonlyfeasibleaspartofaneven-handedapproachwiththeTaiwannegotiationsone-stepbehindthosewithBeijing.TheEP’sresponsetotheinitialannouncementbytheEuropeanCommissionofbothBITswasaringingendorsementoftheBITwithTaiwanandareferencetomovingontoaFTAafterwards,whileforChinaitwasagrudgingacceptanceringedwithconditionsinsistingthatBeijingmustfirstrespecthumanrights,improvelabourrights,engageinsustainabledevelopment.

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WhyistheEPsoanti-Chinaandwhydoesitmatter?FirstBeijingsuffersfromatoxiccoalitionofhostileforcesintheEP.ThereisastrongHumanRightslobbyinandaroundtheEPthat–rightly–hasconcernsthatdespitetheenormousprogresssince1989thereisstillworktodo.ThereisalsoaseriousTibetlobbyintheEPthatpromotesserialvisitstoBrusselsandStrasbourgbytheDalaiLama,

plusaTaiwanLobbythatisoftenwayoutinfrontofTaipeiintermsofthepositionsitadvocates.Thethreegroupsfeedoffeachother,withthewholegreaterthanthesumoftheparts,almostguaranteeingtherewillbevirtualmonthlyresolutionsduringtheEuropeanParliament’sStrasbourgSessionscriticalofChinainoneformoranother.

Inthepasttheseserialcondemnationswereanirritantandnomore.However,theratificationoftheLisbonTreatyinDecember2009gavetheEPsweepingnewpowersovertradepolicy.NownotradeagreementcanenterintoforcewithouttheapprovaloftheEP.Frankly,eveniftheCommissionwanted–andonesuspectsitdoesn’t–ithasnoprospectofsuccessfullytakingaEU–ChinaFTAthroughtheEP.EvenaBITwillprovedifficultunlesstheCommissionistacticallyastuteanddeterminedtakingtheChinaandTaiwandealsthroughconsecutively,withthepromisethatiftheChinaTreatyfailstogathertherequiredsupporttheywillwithdrawthefollowingTaiwanagreement.

Yetthisisnottheonlyproblem.In2001ChinawasadmittedtotheWorldTradeOrganisationwiththepromisethattheUSandtheEUwouldgrantChinaMarketEconomyStatus(MES)after15years.ThatperiodisupinDecember2016andBeijingwasisunderthefondimpressionthatthis

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willbeautomatic.TheLisbonTreatygivestheEPavetooverallTradeAgreementswiththeEuropeanCommission,confirmingthatthegrantingofMESwillrequirelegislativechangethattheEPcan–andwill-forcetoavote.CongressiswatchingwithinterestandwillfollowEurope’slead.

ToomanyfailtorecognisewithintheEUthatourinterestsarenolonger–iftheyeverwere–identicalwiththoseoftheUnitedStates.Europeneedstotakeitsownpathdeterminedbyourowninterests.Amongstthe‘TriadPowers’thiswillrequireamorebalancedrelationshipwherewesimultaneouslyco-operateandcompetewithbothBeijingandWashington.Chinasharesours–andNeedham’s–humanistictraditionsandvaluesinawaythattheincreasingreligiosityofUScultureandpoliticsismovingawayfrom.EuropeandChinahavemuchtolearnandteacheachother.ChinaisopentoEuropewhileEuropeislessopentoChina.Perceptionsneedtobechanged.

IamremindedofacoupleofChina–Europerelationshipsthatdeservetobebetterknown.FirstattheendoftheKoreanWaroneRoyalMarine,AndrewCondon,aPOWfromScotland,chose–alongwithascoreofUSsoldiers–tostaybehindinChina.Second,recentlyaSpanisheditionofaChinesebookwaspublished,LosBrigadistasChinosenlaGuerraCivil:LaLlamadadeEspana(1936-39)(TheCallofSpain:TheChineseVolunteersintheSpanishCivilWar(1936-39))byHwei-ruTsouandLenTsou,thatdescribedtheexploitsoftheover100ChinesevolunteerswhofoughtinSpainwiththeInternationalBrigades.

ThereisabigjobtobedoneifEU–Chinarelationsarenottofounderinthecomingyears.WemustlinktheoryandpracticeasinawayTonyBennurgedalmost45yearsago.SACUhasanillustrioushistory,butI’mapolitician,notanhistorian.Ourjobisnottodescribetheworldbutchangeit.ThisisthebeginningofanewfightandSACUneedstogearitselfuptogo‘backtothefuture’.

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GlynFord

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Steve lAU, ChAIr, ChINeSe IN brItAIN fOrUM

SteveLauischairofTheChineseinBritainForum.HealsochairstheStrategicPartnershipBoardofthe‘EnsuringWeRemember’campaigntoestablishapermanentmemorialintheUKtotheChineseLabourCorpswhoservedunderBritishcommandduringtheGreatWar.HearguedtheneedforashiftinthewayweengagetheBritishpubliconChina,avoidingthedeepestcontroversiesandrefocussingonissueswhichchallengeviewsofChinaforgedintheColdWar.StevedrewonsomeofthewaystheCampaignwasdoingthis,andtheprofoundimpactthiscouldhaveontheChinesecommunityitself.

About Steve Lau

SteveLauischairofTheChineseinBritainForum.Foundedin1996,theForumworkswithandfortheChinesecommunitytopromoteequalityofopportunity,activecitizenshipandsocialcohesion.StevealsochairstheStrategicPartnershipBoardcoordinatingtheEnsuringWeRememberCampaigntoestablishapermanentmemorialintheUKtothe96,000volunteersoftheChineseLabourCorps.

An Account of Steve Lau’s Talk

SteveLauobservedthatamongstthe40,000memorialstotheGreatWarintheUKthereisnotasingleonetotheChineseLabourCorpsdespitetheirvitalcontributiontothewareffort,andtheovertwothousandwhodiedinservice.HespokeofBritain’spromiseafterthewartorememberthosewhohadserved,andcalledtheroutineomissionorrelegationoftheChineseLabourCorpstoafootnoteinhistoryahistoricalinjusticethatneededtobeaddressed.HespokeofwhatcanbelearntfromthisCampaign.“Youhavetochooseyourbattles,”hecommented.

Stevenotedthatthereis,forbetterorforworse,adirectrelationship

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betweenhowtheBritishpublicperceiveChinaandtheirviewoftheChinesecommunityinBritain;andconversely,howthepublicviewtheChinesecommunityinBritainimpactsuponhowtheyperceiveChina.StevearguedthatabetterunderstandingofChinawasonlypossibleifthedominantnarrativesonChinachanged,giventhatonsomeissuesthosenarrativesdidnotreflecttherealityinChina.Tochallengeengrainedmisconceptions,heargued,wasawasteoftimeandenergy,citingtheexampleofTibetonwhichmisrepresentationsandhistoricalinaccuraciesaresostronglyheldthatthereisnopossibilityofareasoneddebateonthesubject.HesuggeststhatinordertopromoteabetterunderstandingofChinawedrawalessonfromDengXiaoping’sapproachtodevelopingrelationswithJapanatthestartoftheOpenDoorPolicy,inwhichhesuggestedthemoredifficultissuesbesetasideandleftforfuturegenerationstoaddress.BynotengagingonissuessuchasTibet,TaiwanorFalungongwecanfocusourattentionandenergiesonmoreproductivedialogue.

Theeffectsofsuchanapproachwereillustratedwithreferencetothe‘EnsuringWeRemember’campaign.SteveobservedthatthemostcommonreactionbymembersoftheBritishpublicwhentheylearnthat96,000ChinesevolunteerscametoBritain’sassistanceduringtheFirstWorldWaristoexclaim,“Really?”,andsuggestedweshouldwelcomesuchareactionbecauseitindicatesthataperson’sunderstandingofChinahadbeenchallenged,andprovidestheopportunitytopresentamorenuancedunderstandingofChina.

AtthesametimeStevesuggestedthattheCampaign’simpactupontheChinesecommunitymaybejustasprofound.TheCampaignhasbeenmorethanarallyingpoint,fornotonlyhasitbroughttogetherthelargestevercoalitionofChineseorganisationsinBritain,butthehiddenhistoryitrevealsdeniesthosewhowouldexcludeormarginalisetheBritishChinese.Thiswashighlightedasbeingofgreatimportancebecausecommunitieswhichareexcludedormarginalisedaredeniedthefoundationsonwhichcivicprideandparticipationarebased.

Stevefinishedbysummarisingsomeofthewaysthecampaignwasbuildingnewfoundationsforcivicprideandincreasedparticipationinnationallifeby

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theChineseinBritain:•ForthefirsttimetheChinesecommunityinBritainwillbetakingapro-activeratherthanre-activestepinengagingwithmainstreamsocietyinsearchforafairandequitableplacewithinBritishsociety.

•Forthefirsttimeinitshistorythefocusofthecommunity’sinvolvementinBritishsocietywillmoveawayfromcolonialismandofbeingguests,toacommunitythatcantakeprideandconfidenceinitscontributionandsacrificetoandforBritain.

•Forthefirsttime,theChineseinBritainwillhaveaculturalreferencepointthatembedsthemwithinahistoricalBritain:theirhistorywillnolongerbeginwithpostSecondWorldWarmigration.

•ForthefirsttimeBritishbornChinesechildrenwillhaveasharedheritagewiththeirpeers,inspiringaconfidenceandself-esteemfromwhichtheirrightfulassertiontobeBritishChineseisnotaccompaniedbyfeelingtheneedtojustifybeingoneortheother.

•Forthefirsttime,theplaceandbelongingofBritishChineseinBritishsocietywillstretchbeyondlivingmemory,andwhentheyspeakoftheirheritageitwillnolongernecessarilybeareferencetofaroffplacesinEastandSoutheastAsia.

SteveLauandGrahamPerry

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prOfeSSOr jUde hOwell, lSe

ProfessorJudeHowellbeganbyaskingifwestillneedtomaketheefforttounderstandChina.Chinaisbecomingmuchmorecomplex,differentiatedandunequalmakingithardertounderstandbutevenmoreimportanttomaketheefforttounderstand.Sheaskedaseriesofquestionstoinitiatediscussionregardingsocial,politicalandeconomicchangesinChina.WecannotpredictthefuturebecausetherearesomanypossiblescenariosbutthereisstillaneedforustotrytounderstandChina.

About Professor Jude Howell

JudeHowellisProfessorofInternationalDevelopmentwiththeDepartmentofInternationalDevelopmentattheLSE.Between2003and2010shewasDirectoroftheLSECentreforCivilSociety.SheiscurrentlyDirectoroftheESRCResearchProgrammeonNon-GovernmentalPublicAction,andSeriesEditorofthePalgravePressbookseriesonNon-GovernmentalPublicAction.PriortoworkingattheLSE,shewasgovernanceteamleaderattheInstituteofDevelopmentStudies,UniversityofSussex.Herresearchinterestsinclude:civilsocietyanddevelopment;tradeunionismandlabourorganisinginChina;Chinesedevelopmentmodelandaid.Recentpublicationsinclude,Global

ProfessorJudeHowell

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MattersforNon-GovernmentalPublicAction(Editor),(PalgravePress,2012);NGOsandSocialDevelopment:aComparativeStudy(co-editedwithPengXizheandWangChuanlan),(FudanUniversityPress,2012).

An Account of Professor Jude Howell’s Talk

ProfessorJudeHowellbeganbyaskingiftherewerestillmythsandpreconceptionsaboutChina.OrperhapswedonotneedtomaketheefforttounderstandChinaanymore?Somanyyoungpeoplearegoingabroadtostudy.DrJosephNeedhamunderlinedtheimportanceofmakingknowntheChinesepointofview.Chinaisbecomingmuchmorecomplex,differentiated,andwithrapideconomicgrowth,moreunequal.Chinahasbecomemuchmorediverseoverthelast30years–diversificationofclasses,generations,acrossregions,makingithardertopostulateaChineseview.WhoseviewsofChinaarewelookingat?Thereisnolongerjustoneview.ItishardertounderstandChinanowbutmoreimportanttomaketheefforttounderstand.Isthereacivilsociety?PeoplesaythereisnocivilsocietyinChina,thatthegovernmentcontrolseverything,butthisisnotcorrect.ThereareNGOsonvariousissues,suchastheenvironmentandwomen’sissues.

Isthegovernmentauthoritarian?Thereisalooseningupinthepoliticalsystem,withconsultation,publichearings,someinvolvementinbudgeting.Weneedtounderstandwhythegovernmenthasadoptedthesemeasuresandwheretheyaregoing.

ProfessorHowellthenspokeofthechangingnatureoftheChineseCommunistParty.Howdoesitsurvive?Itisveryadaptiveandexperimental,unliketheSovietUnion.Itsoriginsgobacktotherevolutionarystruggle.Arethesechangesjustaboutshort-termsurvivalorleadingtoaverynewwayofgoverning?

IsChinastillcommunist?Isthisamisnomer?Whatisleftofcommunismtoday?Isitjustthename‘CommunistParty’?Ifitisnotcommunist,whatisit?Isitavarietyofcapitalism,oracapitalistversionofcommunism?

ThereisstillaColdWarmentalityinUS-Chinascholarship,soChina’s

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engagementinAfricaandotherlow-incomecountriesmeansChinaisseenasatwenty-firstcenturyneo-colonialist.ChineseambassadorsinAfricaareincreasinglyadeptatchallengingtheseperceptions,arguingitisaboutmutualbenefit,friendship,solidarity,withdecadesofhistorybehindit.“Weneedtounderstandthesenarratives,”shesaid.

Andwhatoffuturepredictions?UnderstandingChinaisimportantforunderstandingthefuture.ThereisaColdWarassumptionthatsurelyChinamustbeheadingtowardsdemocratisation.Therearerealunknowables.Wecannotpredictwithanyconfidence.

TheCommunistPartyschoolhasbeencarefullystudyingthereasonsforthecollapseoftheSovietUnion,determineditwillnothappeninChina.Thepartydoesfearcollapse.IftheChineseCommunistPartycollapsed,whatwouldreplaceit?Wouldtherebecivilwar?Externalwar?Wouldthecountrybreakup?Therearemanyscenariosanditisdifficulttopredict.

Inconclusion,ProfessorHowellassertedthatitisveryimportanttotrytounderstandthecontoursofsocial,politicalandeconomicchangeinChina,whatChinamightlooklikein50years’time.Thereisstillaneedforunderstandingandeffort.

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grAhAM perry, fOrMer SACU vICe ChAIr

GrahamPerryspokeonthethemesofChinatoday:stability,prosperity,humanrightsandtheruleoflaw.Chinaisbecomingamorepluralisticsocietywithapartythatisbecomingaccountabletothepeople.China’shumanrightsweaknessesarebeingaddressed,anditisembracingtheruleoflaw.

About Graham Perry

GrahamPerryfirstvisitedChinaasatwenty-year-oldstudentin1965whenChinawasinthegripoftheSocialistEducationmovementpriortotheCulturalRevolution.HereturnedtotheUKandformedtheCambridgebranchofSACU.Hehassincemademorethan100visitsasabusinessmanandlatterlyasanArbitratorwiththeCIETAC,theChinaInternationalTradeArbitrationCommission.HeissonofJackPerryofthe48GroupofbusinessmenwhopioneeredbusinesswiththenewPRC.HisbrotherStephenPerryiscurrentChairmanofthe48GroupClub.HeisalsovisitingProfessorattheUniversityofInternationalBusinessandEconomics,Beijing,andapastVice-ChairofSACU.HespeaksregularlyonChina.

An Account of Graham Perry’s Talk

ThethemesofChinatodayarestability,prosperity,humanrightsandtheruleoflaw.In1976,afewdaysafterthearrestoftheGangofFour,therewasafilmshowattheChineseEmbassy.AfterwardstheAmbassadorcameforwardandsaidhowhappyhewasthatnight.HetoldaverydifferentstoryabouttheCulturalRevolution.Theofficialspokespersonshad‘pulledthewooloveroureyes’aboutChinaandtheCulturalRevolution.ItwasadarkdisasterforChina.Maybeitwasintendedtobeverydifferent,buttheoutcomesetChinaback.

DengXiaopingsaid,“Itdoesn’tmatterifacatisblackorwhite,solongasitcatchesmice.”WheredowebegintounderstandChinatoday?Twowords

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havestoodoutinrelationtoChina’swants:stabilityandprosperity.Butstabilitynotattheexpenseofaccountability.ChinadoesnotwantarepeatoftheCulturalRevolutionor1989[TiananmenSquareprotests].Chinaismovingtowardsamuchmorepluralisticsociety.Chinawantstohaveasocietyateasewithitselfwhilstitsetsaboutthetaskofturningintoatop,powerfuleconomicstatebringingasmuchprosperitytoasmanypeopleaspossible.Formanypeople,itsmarketreformsarenotcommunism.Inthatsense,Chinaisinunchartedwaters.

Theroleofthepartyhastobeacceptedbythepeople,anditistoalargeextent.XiJinpingshouldbegivencreditforrecognizingthatthepartyisatriskunlessitisaccountable.Thishasbecomethelynchpinofhispresidency.Hehasinsistedthattherelationshipbetweenthepartyandthepeoplemustberepaired.Ifthepeoplearemorecriticalthaneverbefore,thensobeit.ThisisdifficultforustounderstandaswehavealwaysthoughtofChinaasautocratic.Chinaisposingnewquestionsaboutdemocracy.MrPerryassertedthatChinawouldneverembracethetwo-partysystemanddidnotaccepttheUKorUSpoliticalsystemwereappropriatetoChina.

MrPerryrecommendedXiJinping’snewlypublishedbook,TheGovernanceofChina,forPresidentXi’svisionofthefutureofChina.[TheGovernanceofChinaisacompilationofexcerptsandsummariesofmajorspeeches,talks,interviewsandcorrespondencemadebyPresidentXi(2015).]

Asforhumanrights,criticsaremainlyfromUSAandBritain.HoweverintheUKittookalmost100yearsafterthe1832ReformActbeforealladultswereentitledtovote[1928].InUSA,theDeclarationofIndependence,1776,stated“allmenarecreatedequal”,butnotwomenorblacks:thelastqualificationontherightofalladultstovotewasnotlifted[insomeSouthernstates]

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until1965.ThePeople’sRepublicofChinaisonly65yearsold.ThereareweaknessesinChina’shumanrightsbuttheyarebeingaddressed.

Chinaisembracingtheruleoflaw.TheChinesegovernmentislookingathowtheruleoflawworksintheUK.Willthepartybeabletoimposeitswillonjudges?No,theysaythejudiciarywillbeindependent.Inconclusion,thingsofconsiderablesignificancearehappeninginChinanow.Thequestionforusishowtobea‘criticalfriend’ofChina.

GrahamPerry

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DirkNimmegeers,Belgium-ChinaAssociationRepresentative,makesapointfromthefloor

AndrewHicks,SACUCouncilMember,makesapointfromthefloor

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IN AtteNdANCe

Embassy of the People’s Republic of ChinaHEAmbassadorLiuXiaomingMinisterCounsellorXiangXiaoweiSecondSecretaryChenLekangMr.MaYongchaoShaoZhengCounsellorCounsellorShaoZheng

Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Mr.SongJingwuVicePresident,EuropeanDepartmentMs.ZhangRuoningDeputyDirector,EuropeanDepartmentMs.HaoXiaosongDeputyDivisionDirector,EuropeanDepartmentMs.SunChi,ProjectOfficer,EuropeanDepartmentMs.WangFan,ProjectOfficer,EuropeanDepartment

Peking UniversityProfessorSunHua(ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies)WangFan(ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudies)

Oundle SchoolMs.AnabelleBarker,JointSACU/ChinaCentreforEdgarSnowStudiesOundleSchoolEssayprizewinnerMaxvonHabsburg,HeadofHistoryHuaYan,HeadofChineseShunyongGe,HanbanTeacher,ChineseDepartment

50th Anniversary Symposium Corporate SponsorsSuwinLee(EY)JingRu(CypressBooks)GraceLandy(CypressBooks)RuthBaker(QuakerChinaGroup

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RobertTemple,Authorof“TheGeniusofChina”andassociateofJosephNeedham.ChairmanofTheHistoryofChineseScienceandCultureFoundation.OliviaTemple,Trustee,TheHistoryofChineseScienceandCultureFoundation

Amb.KojoAmoo-GottfriedPresidentGhana-ChinaFriendshipAssociationpresentatinauguralmeetingon15thMay1965KeithBennett(ViceChair48Group)TanyaBrownTerryCannon[formereditorChinaNow]ZackCeranicDr.RobertChan-HenryYiyangChangYifanChengWongChongWaiDianaDennisZoeDerbyHanluDongTobyEvansColinFleggKaiLokYapHendrickSinJohnCooperAlanJenkinsJohnPendersJosephRiceDoreenDaveyAgnesWongOscarWrightDennisGanJiayiHanKenHoweZhongyiHuangReginaldHunt[activeSACUmembersinpast;1971tour]RobertIlsonAlanJenkins(participanton1972tour)BillJennerBarbaraLaineRebeccaLawlessCenLiuGil(Damian)Loescher

YunyiMaDavidMachinTomMcArthurDr.JacquelineLam-McArthurAnneMeredithAlisonMinnsNeelofarMohammedJudithMeadowsZhenzhongMuSivOftedalJPendersWenlanPeng(Chair,MeridianSociety)RichardPhillipsNeilPickeringTinaRedshawBritishConsul-GeneralChongqing[lastSACUSecretaryGeneral]LuiseSchafer[formerSACUViceChair]DougScottCarolynScottDouglasShiJohnSinyengaHelenSpillettJanetStJohnAusten[SACUGeneralSecretary1979]GuanglanTianEdithWaldmanGeorgeWangHughWangManshaWenEmilyWilliamsJudeWoodwardBenWrightLucieQianXiaBingXiaoLailanYoungXinyueYuanZhuyunZangZhaojunZhou

50th Anniversary Symposium Registered Guests

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Press/MediaMrChengZhangNewsProducerPropellerTV,LondonMsWuCongsiReporter,XinhuaLondonBureauShaoZhengPR,EmbassyofthePeople’sRepublicofChina

Registered Individual and Institutional Members, Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding

ZoeReed,SACUChairand50thOrganisingGroupDr.JennyClegg,SACUVicePresidentand50thOrganisingGroupDrFrancesWood,SACUVicePresidentand50thOrganisingGroupChristopherHenson,SACUMembershipSecretaryand50thOrganisingGroupLaiSeeChew,SACUMemberandCo-optee50thOrganisingGroupRobStallard,SACUVicePresidentandWebmasterJaneHadley,SACUVicePresidentandTreasurerWalterFung,SACUEditor,ChinaEyeCorinneAtwood,SACUSecretaryLindaRosen,SACUCouncilMemberHarisLivas-Dawes,SACUCouncilMemberIvorKenna,SACUCouncilMemberFloKenna,SACUCouncilMemberAndrewHicks,SACUCouncilMemberRuthLambert,SACUCouncilMemberJaneFleming,SACUCouncilMember

Non-Registered Guests JohnCooperDoreenDaveyAlanJenkinsRuthLambertJosephRiceHendrickSinJohnSinyengaAgnesWongOscarWrightKaiLokYap

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AcknowledgementsThisReportonSACU’s50thAnniversarySymposiumhasbeencompiledbytheSACU50thAnniversaryFollowUpWorkingParty(LaiSeeChew,JennyClegg,ChrisHenson,ZoeReed,RosamundWong,FrancesWood)withadditionalmaterialfromCorinneAttwood,WalterFungandRichardPoxton.TheReportwascollatedbyRosamundWong,withthankstoRobStallard,SACUVicePresidentandWebmaster,forallphotographs.

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http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/sga/lci/index.aspx

http://www.cypressbooks.com/

http://www.ey.com/UK/en/Home http://www.chineseforlabour.org/

http://www.quaker.org.uk/our-organisation/quaker-groups/china-interest-group

http://english.pku.edu.cn/news_events/news/focus/751.htm

wIth thANkS tO OUr COrpOrAte dONOrS ANd SUppOrterS

ANd OUr frIeNdS ANd ASSOCIAteS At

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http://www.belchin.be/language/en/ http://www.chopsticksclub.com/ http://www.themeridiansociety.org.uk/

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