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analogous visit to Hungary).
The explanation of HM Chargé d'Affaires was that since the Foreign Minister, Nguyen Co Thach, is a member of the Politburo, the role of the.. International Department of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat in determining Vietnamese foreign policy, and in particular in ensuring that it reflects the state of CPV/CPSU inter-party relations, is correspondingly less important. The Australian Ambassador has a contact in the International Department but does not find him particularly useful. Mr Partridge said that HM Embassy would try to open a line to the CC Secretariat although it would not be easy. Such a channel could be particularly important when the CPV re-opens a dialogue with the CCP, as surely one day it must. A source of reliable information on thinking within the PAVN would also be invaluable.
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