Lord Callaghan, then Foreign Secretary, declares the Centre open on July 16, 1974, watched by HE Mr Song Zhiguang, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, and the first president of the Centre, The Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald.

THIRTY YEARS OF THE GREAT BRITAIN - CHINA CENTRE By Katie Lee

OFFICIALLY inaugurated on 16 th July 1974 by the then Foreign Secretary, Jim Callaghan, the Great Britain – China Centre grew out of the Great Britain – China Committee, established two years earlier. This Committee was set up under the auspices of the British Council, and with the help of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with the object of promoting cultural exchanges in the widest sense for the general development of good relations between Britain and China. At that time China was just emerging from the throes of the Cultural Revolution, and there was a dearth of contact and information on what was happening inside the People’s Republic. The appetite for understanding China amongst the British public had exceeded all expectations at “The Genius of China” exhibition in 1973 – the most important Chinese cultural event held overseas since the establishment of the People’s Republic.

The need for a body to encourage greater non-governmental contact between Britain and China was self-evident, and particularly one with no political bias. There already existed the Great Britain - USSR Association, and the Great Britain – East Europe Centre and these formed the model for the governance of the Centre with very similar articles of association, and formation of an Executive Committee. The main sponsor, The Times, generously donated the profit generated by the Exhibition, to help with the establishment of the GBCC as a Centre with an annual grant-in-aid provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Chinese Embassy at that time warmly welcomed the setting up of the Centre and those good relations have continued to the present day.

And so, from humble beginnings as a Committee, the GBCC took its place in the overall relationship between Britain and China under the Presidency of the Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald, the Chairmanship of Sir Harold Thompson, and the Directorship of Joe Ford. Its principal activities at this stage were the hosting of visits by such diverse groups as the Wu Shu Martial Arts Troupe, a press delegation and an anti-metal corrosion delegation with visits to China being made by groups of Sinologists, librarians and geographers, amongst others. The number of visits to and from China were few and far between, compared with today, and there is much recorded discussion of the propriety of certain groups, the reasons why delegations may have been turned down, and the careful stewardship of limited funds in the face of many requests for help to visit China.

It seems unbelievable now that a proposed tour by Manchester United was turned down by the Chinese on the grounds that the All-China Sports Federation already had a full programme in 1976, or that it was decided not to push for a visit by Yehudi Menhuin to China in view of the Chinese attitude towards Western music. But Chinese organisations were still undergoing self-criticism and the fear of putting a foot out of line by hosting the wrong group of foreigners was not to be underestimated.

Fast forward to 2004 and the Centre is engaged in running a European Union-funded research seminar on the use of the Death Penalty in China, and collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on the establishment of labour arbitration courts to settle workers’ disputes. There is now virtually no barrier to exchange and dialogue other than that of finding the necessary financial support!

Although the core values of the Centre have not changed and at the heart of all its work is the desire to promote understanding between the people of Britain and China, the way in which that objective is met has changed dramatically in line with the developing bilateral relationship and developments within China itself.

The first decade of the Centre’s work covered a very broad range of interests from arts conservation, librarian visits, through to agricultural and medical delegations as well as briefings for businessmen. The pace of activities picked up and exchanges obviously became easier but there was very much a sense of rediscovery, of pioneering contact, and of building new bridges in what the Centre did.

By 1984, China had already undertaken significant change and, with agreement on the question of Hong Kong settled by the 1984 Joint Declaration, contact and activities flourished. The Centre responded by becoming a vital reference point for all kinds of people engaging with China: the newsletter developed, the lecture programme grew, the ‘Directory of British Organisations with an Interest in China’ was published and Chinese language classes were provided. And the Centre played a key role in promoting twinning links between China and Britain as well as running a work placement scheme for young Chinese professionals.

The events of 1989 changed everybody’s perspective and put human rights at the forefront of relations with China. Following the visit to China of a British human rights delegation in 1991, led by our soon-to-be President Lord Howe, the Centre began its programme of exchanges in the area of legal reform. As the pace and variety of Sino-British links grew, it became increasingly important to focus Centre efforts on some core objectives. During the 1990s these were legal, and economic reform, environment, arts and humanities, public administration, and the media.

Running alongside the core work of the Centre have been the membership activities, and the Great Britain – China Educational Trust. This Trust was set up at the same time as the Centre and it too benefited from the funds donated from “The Genius of China”. Over the years the Trust has supported many Chinese students in the UK, funded visits and research and, in a quiet, unsung way, has also contributed greatly to good relations.

Thirty years on I suspect none of those involved in setting up the Great Britain – China Centre could have foreseen the quite phenomenal pace of change in China nor the ease and openness of dialogue that now exists. The GBCC has continued to adapt to maximise the impact of the public funds it receives from the FCO, and to make as significant a contribution as it can to Sino-British understanding, based not only on its own strengths and capabilities but on the priorities in the bilateral relationship.

One other constant throughout the history of the Centre has been the remarkable and often selfless support, advice and interest from very senior public figures with China connections. Each generation of staff has been very conscious of the help they have received in promoting the Centre’s interests amongst officials in both Britain and China, and in the almost unstinting ability to be hospitable to visiting Chinese delegations. Although a small organisation, the Centre has had the privilege to work with some of the great names in Sino-British relations and it very much hopes to keep this place in the future development of relations.

It is an extremely exciting time to be involved with China and the Centre. Together with our partners across a wide range of Chinese organisations, we welcome the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Katie Lee is a Senior Associate of the GBCC. She was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list 2004 for her work on UK-Chinese relations as GBCC Director from 1995 to 2003.