CONFIDENTIAL
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FROM: PS/Lord Glenarthur
DATE: 14 March 1989
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CHINESE AMBASSADOR
1.
In advance of your meeting this afternoon with the Chinese Ambassador, you will wish to be aware of a lengthy conversation Lord Glenarthur had with him last evening at the
the ('wealth?!! Commonwealth Day Reception.
!
POSSIBLE VISIT BY LI PENG
2.
Stressing that he was speaking informally and on a strictly personal basis, Chaozhu said that he greatly welcomed the flow of Ministerial visits from the UK to China. But he had the impression that a certain imbalance had been created, and that a major inward visit was needed to redress it. He wished therefore to float the idea that Li Peng might come to the UK later this year. Among the advantages of such a visit Chaozhu said he thought that direct contact between Li Peng and Mrs Thatcher could cut through the bureaucracy which was exacerbating problems in the JLG.
3.
Rather than broaching this formally, Chaozhu said that he would welcome some personal indication from Lord Glenarthur about whether this idea was welcome, and about the best timing from the point of view of those whom Li Peng would wish to see here.
4. Chaozhu laid such stress on the personal nature of this approach that I would be surprised if he raised it again this afternoon. Assuming he does not, I should be grateful for advice from Mr McCleary on how Lord Glenarthur should respond to this approach. His initial reaction is that there may well be merit in taking up the idea.
CONFIDENTIAL
/TIBET