RESTRICTED
HMG Activity
4.
We
HMG's own activities should be consistent with the advice to companies:
should adopt a policy of "steady as she goes" to the present period of retrench-
ment and maintain all types of Government-to-Government contacts, but selectively
and without forcing the pace. We should avoid actions which might suggest a sharp
change in our policy towards China, and concentrate on the longer term activities,
ie:
Üvertaken by Gu unava Mu ability.
Official exchanges
Continue to seek selective high-level inward visits to keep in touch with
the Chinese leader ship's thinking and keep British capabilities in their
minds. A recommendation has been put to the Secretary of State for Trade
to invite Vice-Premier Gu Mu in April after the conclusion of the EEC/China
Business Week. Our invitation to Vice-Premier Fang Yi has also been accepted
in principle and we should aim to get him here some time before the end of
1982.
Visits by individual Ministers and provincial officials should con-
tinue as the opportunity arises, but at a more moderate pace than in recent years (there is a proposal for a regional delegation to Shanghai to visit
the North West).
Outward visits
Those
A similar policy should apply to outward visits by UK Ministers. planned for 1981 represent an adequate involvement (see Information Note
circulated).
BOTB Support
5.
We should continue to support selective missions and exhibitions in both
Outward events should be small-scale and carefully targeted (ranging
directions.
from the scale of the Scientific Instrument Exhibition in Shanghai in March,
down
to the seminars by small groups of companies or individual companies) and should
be aimed at major regional centres (eg Shanghai, Canton, Tiantin) as well as Peking.