Free speech

It MAY not be known outwith academic circles that our First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond, is promoting and introducing a series of lectures in Scottish universities “exploring issues concerning Sino-Scottish engagement in education, culture and commerce”.

The keynote lecture is given by Professor Lai Desheng of Beijing University.

I find it difficult to conceive what Mr Salmond thinks a democratic Scotland can possibly learn from a country run by a totalitarian dictatorship of unelected oligarchs.

Perhaps any exchange of culture is better than none, but your readers should consider that the Chinese government currently blocks all BBC overseas broadcasts into its country.

This “engagement” seems a 
little one-sided.

Keith Miller

Lamington

Kildary, Ross-shire