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MEETING BETWEEN MR HAN HIEN-LUNG (VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS) AND HER MAJESTY'S AMBASSADOR : 14 JUNE
Present: Mr Han Nien-lung
Kr Liu Hua (Deputy Head of
Protocol Department)
Mr Chiang En-chu (Interpreter)
IMA
Mr Davies
Mr Sullivan
Mr Han welcomed HMA and referred to his previous stays in China. The Ambassador must know China very well. HHA said China was a big and important country; he had a great deal to learn about it.
He
2. Mr Han said relations between the two countries had greatly developed, especially over the last few years. We should not be complacent about this present state but should aim to improve them further. HMA said he was grateful to Mr Han for having agreed to see him so soon after arrival. agreed relations were good, but that there was great scope for further development. He had spoken with the Foreign Secretary last week, who had expressed great interest in relations with China and had spoken of his recent meeting with Mr Huang Hua in New York. It was the wish of Dr Cwen and of the British Government as a whole, to make great strides forward in Sino-British relations.
3. Mr Han said that he shared the same wish. As China made progress in its reconstruction it was important to develop relations in the economic and trade fields. Cultural and friendly exchanges were also important. In the years since the Ambassador had last left China (1969) there had been great changes particularly in the last two years. 1976 had been an extraordinary year. Three leaders had died successively - Chou En-lai, Chu Teh, Chairman Mao. There had then been a great earthquake and China had suffered heavily. The Gang of Four had caused much sabotage and in this year they were smashed which was a great victory. Later the 11th Farty Congress and 5th National People's Congress had been great events. It was possible to say that the situation was now good. There was great scope for development in bilateral relations and the development would be smooth.
4.
HMA thanked Mr Han for his review of the events of the last few years. Although busy with other matters during this time he had followed events in China closely and was aware of their importance. He shared the grief felt by the Chinese at the loss of their leaders. He agreed that the current situation was very favourable. It was the Embassy's task to assist the further development of relations in a number of fields.
He was fortunate in being able to build on the foundation so ably provided by his predecessor. He would like to stress that in this work he had the full support of the British Government and
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