SOS/R
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DISCUSSIONS WITH VICE PREMIER LI PENG, 9 JUNE 1986, HYDE PARK HOTEL
Present:
Secretary of State
Dr Forrest
Mr Dart
Li Peng plus party
The Secretary of State said that the UK and the People's Republic
had many common energy interests. Following his visit to China in 1983 he had created an office within the Department specifically to
deal with relations with China. He believed that this had been
successful in creating greater mutual understanding to the benefit of both parties.
It
Li Peng said that the Chinese people valued the co-operation of UK
oil companies in the development of their offshore resources.
was to be hoped that results in the South China Sea would soon
improve.
The Secretary of State said that the history of the North Sea had
been one of an initial period of disappointment, followed
eventually by a number of significant oil discoveries. He knew
that BP, for example, still regarded China as a promising area; it
was important to press on with the exploration programme. Another potential area of collaboration was natural gas. The newly privatised British Gas Corporation which he expected to come into
being towards the end of this year would be the largest gas utility
in the world, with a very significant research programme and
unrivalled expertise in exploration and distribution matters. would be anxious to expand its international activities, including
in China, once it was freed from its present public sector
restrictions.
It
Li Peng said that he would take note of British Gas' expertise. wondered whether the Chernobyl accident had affected the UK's
nuclear power programme.
He
The Secretary of State said that UK reactors were of a considerably
different design to that at Chernobyl, so there was no direct
relevance. The Government remained committed to a substantial
nuclear programme.
The future direction of the UK's nuclear