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1 JUN1976
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102
(PG)
TO CERTAIN MISSIONS TELNO GUIDANCE 96 OF 24 MAY 1976
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO CHINA AND JAPAN
1.
The Secretary of State visited China from 3-9 May and Japan from 9-11 May. This was his first overseas visit since taking office.
2. In China the atmosphere throughout the visit was cordial. While the Secretary of State was unable to agree with the Chinese on all points, particularly détente, it was clear that our interests coincide in a number of areas. There were signs that the Chinese took the point about the robustness of the West,
3. In Japan the discussions reflected the great goodwill existing towards the UK and the absence of political problems between us.
Instructions for Use
19 You may draw on the whole of this guidance in discussion with reliable contacts, except for para 13 (about Hong Kong) which is for your own information only.
CHINA
Objectives
5. No Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary had visited China since 1972. Mr Crosland's aims in China were to make contact at senior Ministerial level with the new Chinese leadership, emphasise the importance which HMG attach to relations with China, project a true picture of major British policies in particular the commitment to Europe and to NATO and underline the encouraging prospects for the British economy. He wished also to dispel Chinese misapprehensions regarding détente policies and the resolve of the West as a whole. He wished in particular to establish whether Chinese policy had changed following recent internal events there and to give impetus to the development of bilateral relations including trade.
The Talks
6. The Secretary of State had two rounds of talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister Ch'iac Kuan-hua. He had an hour and a quarter with the new Chinese Premier Hua Kuo-feng and also called on the Minister of Foreign Trade Li Ch'iang. He was assured by all. three that recent events implied substantially no change in Chinese foreign or foreign trade policies. Mr Crosland did not see Mao; it is not normal Chinese practice for the Chairman to receive foreign Ministers.
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