MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO CHINA
CONFIDENTIAL
Background
1. Mr Maude's visit will follow a number of high level
contacts with China that have taken place since the events
of last June, notably:
Mr Major's meetings with the Chinese Foreign Minister
Qian Qichen in Paris in July 1989 (in margins of Paris
Conference on Cambodia) and in New York in September 1989 (in the margins of UNGA).
Sir P Cradock's visit to Peking in December 1989.
The Prime Minister's meeting with the Chinese
Ambassador in March (and again on 3 July, although this latter call has not become public).
Sir Geoffrey Howe's meeting with Chinese Vice Premier
Wu Xueqian when the latter was transitting London in
March (this call has not become public).
2. We postponed the Joint Liaison Group meeting in 1989
immediately following the Tiananmen Square incident. But we
reinstated this September and there have now been three
plenary meetings since last June. These JLG meetings have
gradually become more productive.
3.
We also have frequent contact on Hong Kong matters
between our JLG offices in Hong Kong, between the Chinese
NFA and our Embassy in Peking, between NCNA and the
Political Adviser's office in Hong Kong and, less
frequently, between the Chinese Embassy here and the Foreign
Office.
4. The measures agreed at the Madrid European Council and
MADAGI/2
CONFIDENTIAL