CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
027/1
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013767 MDLIAN 9465
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEK ING
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1170
OF 010149Z JULY 88
INFO PRIORITY HONG
KONG
LORD GLENARTHUR'S VISIT TO CHINA: 21-29 JUNE
1. THE MINISTER OF STATE, LORD GLENARTHUR, AND PARTY LEFT CHINA FOR HONG KONG ON 29 JUNE AFTER A SUCCESSFUL VISIT OF EIGHT DAYS. WE
HAVE ALREADY REPORTED BY TELEGRAM ON THE TALKS IN PEKING WITH THE
FOREIGN MINISTER AND THE VICE-FOREIGN MINISTER. WHILE IN PEKING
LORD GLENARTHUR ALSO VISITED THE SITE OF THE CHINA WORLD TRADE
CENTRE, MET THE RESIDENT BUSINESS AND PRESS COMMUNITY, CALLED ON THE
OFFICES OF THE CHINA DAILY AND THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY AND WAS ABLE
TO DO SOME SIGHTSEEING (INCLUDING A RELATIVELY NEWLY OPENED PART OF
THE GREAT WALL) THERE WERE SEVERAL SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS INVOLVING
THE MINISTER'S CHINESE HOSTS WHO BOTHON THE FORMAL AND INFORMAL
OCCASIONS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE WARMTH IN
SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS.
*
2.
/
THE VISITS TO XIAN AND CHENGDU ALSO INCLUDED SOME SIGHTSEEING
(EG TERRACOTTA WARRIORS) BUT USEFUL VISITS WERE PAID SUCH AS TO THE
XIAN AERO-ENGINE PLANT (COOPERATION WITH ROLLS-ROYCE) AND A SILK
WEAVING FACTORY. THERE WERE FRIENDLY AND ILLUMINATING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DYNAMIC GOVERNOR OF SICHUAN PROVINCE, WHO WAS FORMERLY
VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE. CHENGDU IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO FLESH
OUT A TWINNING ARRANGEMENT WITH LEICESTER AND SOME ANXIETY WAS
EXPRESSED BY THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF ABOUT GETTING A FORMAL AGREEMENT SIGNED THIS AUTUMN.
3. ΒΟΤΗ IN SHAANXI AND SICHUAN PROVINCES THE MINISTER HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PROGRESS ON THE AGRICULTURAL SIDE UNDER THE REFORM POLICY. PARTICULARLY SPECTACULAR WAS A VISIT TO A 2,000 YEAR
OLD IRRIGATION PROJECT WHICH WATERS THE VAST AREA OF THE RED BASIN
IN SICHUAN, AND IS STILL OF HUGH IMPORTANCE IN THE REGION.
4
LADY GLENARTHUR PLAYED HER PART FULLY IN THE VISIT AND WAS ABLE
TO SEE SOMETHING OF CHINA'S EDUCATIONAL AND MEDICAL FACILITIES.
5.
LORD GLENARTHUR WAS WARMLY WELCOMED IN THE PROVINCES AND WAS
A BLE TO SEE THE EXTEND TO WHICH THE CONTROL FROM THE CENTRE HAS BEEN
GRADUALLY LOOSENED OVER RECENT YEARS. THE FURTHER SOUTH WE SENT THE
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