Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT BRIEF
To:
تمر
CONFIDENTIAL
In Confidence
SHIPPING AGREEMENT
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
DSR 11
LINE TO TAKE
1.
We believe that the increased economic activity between our
two countries following the signature of the Economic Cooperation
Agreement (ECA) should benefit the shipping industries of both countrie
I understand that the Chinese Ministry of Communications has agreed
in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, to study the UK
text of a proposed exchange of letters under which both parties would
recognise this principle. I hope that it will be possible to reach
such an understanding which would be in accordance with the spirit of
the ECA, and that this will lead to further discussion on how the
principle can be put into effect.
BACKGROUND
2. With the firm prospect of increasing trade with China following
Mr Varley's visit in February, there is now strong pressure from the
UK shipping industry for action to ensure that British shipping obtains
a reasonable share in the carriage of that trade. At present British
shipping is virtually excluded from the China trade, because of the
control on shipping terms exercised by the China Foreign Trade
Transportation Corporation.
3.
The Economic Cooperation Agreement signed by Mr Varley includes
shipping as one of the areas where the parties agree to expand
cooperation. During Mr Varley's visit officials gave the Chinese the
text of a draft exchange of letters under which the parties would
/confirm