Then, there were no direct air services between Beijing and London. This year, more than a quarter of a million British tourists will travel to China. Then, no serving British Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary had ever visited China. Last year, there were visits from eleven British ministers. The changing nature of international relations requires governments to work ever more closely together for their mutual benefit. In the globalised world economy, the security and prosperity of individual countries often depends on events beyond our borders.
1972年，北京和伦敦之间没有直接通航。而今年，将有25万多名英国游客前往中国。1972年，在位的英国首相或外相中没有人访问过中国。而去年，英国有11位大臣及部长到访中国。国际事务性质的变化，要求政府之间出于相互利益而更加紧密地合作。在全球化的经济中，每个国家的安全和繁荣经常受制于国界之外发生的事件。