Lord Patten gives lecture on China's Return to the World Stage
On Thursday 15th June 2006, the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes gave a lecture in honour of the 2006 John Smith Fellows on the growth of the Chinese economy and its social and economic impact for Europe and the rest of the world. The lecture was hosted by Royal Bank of Scotland at its new world headquarters at Gogarburn in Edinburgh. The event was also attended by 200 invited guests representing Scottish business, the media, politics and civic society.
Lord Patten
Photo courtesy of Sunsol
Trust Chairman Lord Robertson of Port Ellen chaired the event and introduced Lord Patten, a former UK Government Minister, Governor of Hong Kong and EU Commissioner for External Affairs. Lord Patten discussed the changes to the balance of the current global leadership and the extent to which China presents an opportunity for the development of European and American economies. Due to economic and social reforms, China is an emerging global power and major trading nation - it is the EU's second largest trading partner.
Guests at the Lord Patten lecture
Photo Courtesy of Sunsol
Lord Patten argued that Europe and the US should no longer make decisions on international issues such as crime, the environment and nuclear power without input from China. He added that although Scotland, the wider UK and Europe should not regard China's economic improvement as a threat, the EU needs to increase economic competitiveness and consider the impact on education in particular. Lord Patten went on to suggest that the next generation of world leaders must be equipped for future international challenges and, in particular, these leaders must understand the smaller, but increasingly complex, world in which we live. He commented that the John Smith Fellowship Programme was an outstanding example of work in this field.
Kyrgyz Fellow Aida Suiundueva asks Lord Patten about China's future
Photo Courtesy of Sunsol
Lord Patten concluded his talk with a question and answer session. John Smith Fellow Aida Suiundueva from Kyrgyzstan, a country which has a border with China, asked Lord Patten whether he thought China would move towards democracy in the future. Lord Patten responded with what he described as a Marxist concept: that economic developments often determine political ones. He felt that China would not be able to contain internal demands for greater democratic say and that when the Chinese population is able to choose between different brands of trainer, for example, they will want to exercise greater choice over other aspects of their lives. He felt that China's move towards democracy is inevitable. He questioned, however, what form this transition would take - whether the transformation will be gradual and measured, or rapid and more difficult.
Lord Patten talks to Fellows after his speech
Photo Courtesy of Sunsol
The lecture at Gogarburn was a great success and the Trust hopes to make this an annual event. The John Smith Trust would like to thank the Royal Bank of Scotland for hosting and sponsoring this event, and the British Council Scotland for assisting with publicity.