On the day China invaded Vietnam, Britain's Industry Secretary, Eric Varley , left London for Peking in pursuit of new trade for British industry in potentially the world's biggest developing market. His mission, culminating in a seven-billion-pound agreement, followed China's declared intention of spending a fortune on foreign technology and becoming a leading industrial power by the end of the century.
Charles Wheeler reports on Mr Varley 's fortunes in Peking, where businessmen from the whole industrialised world are competing for new business; and on the vital questions affecting Britain's relations with China.
Is China's industrialisation plan realistic? In view of China's invasion of Vietnam, is British policy advisable? How successfully can we compete for her favours?
Producer JONATHAN HOLMES
Deputy editor ELWYN PARRY JONES
Editor CHRISTOPHER capron. Preview: p 23