CONFIDENTIAL
State, meetings with other Ministers and othr
engagements in London. Minister Wu has hinted strongly that he would like to have a meeting with the Prime
Minister.
B
4.
Minister Wu's decision will make it difficult for
senior FCO officials, Mr McLaren in particular, to
participate in his programme: they will be taking part in the IXth JLG in Hong Kong 8-11 March (Mr Paul should
however be here). But the alternative dates acceptable
to the Secretary of State (set out in FCO telno 1062)
were for the second half of March, and seem to have
proved too close to the National People's Congress in
late March or early April, at which Minister Wu is expected to be replaced as Foreign Minister. Wu also
plans to visit the US on the same trip. But he seems
keen to come to the UK, spending as much as five days
here.
5. As for the practical details, the original proposals
were to have Minister Wu in the UK over a weekend so that
he could have sufficient time to see something outside of
London. He now proposes a stay of five days, including a weekend. Subject to Secretary of State's wishes and
diary commitments it would be possible to hold
discussions between 9 and 11 March leaving the weekend free, perhaps for a Chevening weekend and/or visits to other parts of Britain.
Dave Finance
Paul Dimond
S14AAF
CONFIDENTIAL