BASTOUIL SAID THAT HU DID NOT AT ALL GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF A MAN
WHO WAS ABOUT TO RETIRE. HIS HOSTS HAD FOUND HIM BRILLIANT, SPARKLING. CHIRAC WAS INVITED TO VISIT CHINA IN 1987.
7. PRESS COVERAGE OF THE VISIT WAS EXTENSIVE AND ALL POSITIVE. LE
FIGARO MADE HU THE TOP STORY ON ITS FRONT PAGE ON 16 JUNE WITH AN EDITORIAL COMMENT ALONGSIDE. THIS BEGAN BY REGRETTING THAT HU HAD NOT VISITED FRANCE FIRST, BUT WENT ON TO CALL FOR A NEW EFFORT TO
DEVELOP LINKS WITH CHINA AND NOT ALLOW FRANCE TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
OTHER NEWSPAPERS ALSO HAD FAIRLY FULL REPORTS THROUGHOUT THE VISIT. SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING IMMEDIATELY NEWSWORTHY, THESE TENDED TO BE HEAVY ON THE OLD CLICHES OF FRANCO-CHINESE RELATIONS - THE HISTORIC DECISION OF DE GAULLE TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN 1964, THE INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICIES OF FRANCE AND CHINA, AND SO ON. MOST ALSO COMMENTED HOWEVER ON THE GROWTH OF FRENCH EXPORTS LAST YEAR AND
THE BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE IF THE FRENCH SUCCEED IN WINNING
A NUMBER OF LARGE CONTRACTS CURRENTLY UNDER NEGOTIATION.
8. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE, I WILL SEND
COPIES BY BAG.
SIGNED.... G H FRY
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