CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Hotely
My Margo idu
British Embassy
MADRID
3 November 1983
649
RJ Codrington Esq
Southern European Department
FCO
Sea Lubard
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Miss Col
459). 1.
VISIT TO CHINA BY SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTÉR
A CHISHI pa
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7/xi.
Please refer to Louise Croll's letter of 20 October. The Spanish Foreign Minister's visit to China (28 to 31 October) was given only moderate coverage in the Spanish press. Attention was focused on the exchange of views between Morán and his opposite number, Wu Xuequian, on the subjects of Gibraltar and Hong Kong, their agreement on the need to restrain the arms race and China's welcome support for Spain's efforts to join the EC. I discussed the visit today with a member of the Chinese Embassy, Wang Zhen.
2. The Chinese take a realistic view of their importance to Spain: the whole of Asia and Africa fall within the responsibility of one directorate within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs here, bilateral trade amounts to about 170 million dollars in total, and Spain does not have the economic or diplomatic resources to devote much attention to China. Despite this, the Spaniards had appeared keen to increase the level and frequency of bilateral exchanges and had given the Chinese Embassy in Madrid an impressive agenda of subjects Morán would wish to discuss. Gibraltar and Hong Kong were one item amongst about fifteen others which included .exchanges of views on the Soviet Union, United States, Spanish accession to the EC (which China supports) and NATO (to which the Chinese listened without comment).
3. Spanish interest in the Hong Kong negotiations has been apparent for over a year, Wang told me. Though each side appreciated the very different circumstances surrounding their discussions with the UK, Spain had been keen to obtain Chinese views on British negotiating tactics. This formed the most important part of Morán's discussions on this subject!
CONFIDENTIAL
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