CONFIDENTIAL
in stone
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3/10
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044124
MDHIAN 0423
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 1015
OF 04110OZ APRIL 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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HAB 0901
19
MY TELNO 332: MFN STATUS FOR CHINA
WHEN I WAS IN PEKING IN JANUARY, I DISCUSSED WITH LI LANGING, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND TRADE, THE SIGNIFICANCE TO US AS WELL AS CHINA OF THE CONTINUATION OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS. FOLLOWING THAT, AS YOU KNOW, I WROTE TO MR LI WITH SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN THE CHINESE MIGHT INVITE ON A VISIT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF HELPING TO PROMOTE THEIR
CAUSE IN WASHINGTON.
2.
t
THAT WAS IN FEBRUARY. I HAVE NOW JUST RECEIVED THROUGH THE POST A LETTER FROM THE MINISTER THANKING ME. THE LETTER SAYS THAT ALTHOUGH THEE HAVE BEEN ''SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS, CHINA'S MFN STATUS THIS YEAR STILL FACES A COMPLICATED SITUATION''. THE LETTER (TEXT BY BAG TO YOU AND BY FAX TO COATES IN PEKING) CONTAINS HANDSOME THANKS FOR THE WORK DONE BY HONG KONG LAST YEAR ON CONTINUING MFN STATUS AND EXPRESSES THE HOPE THAT 'OUR TWO SIDES WILL FURTHER THEIR CO- OPERATION AND JOINT EFFORTS TO SEEK A SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT OF CHINA'S MFN STATUS THIS YEAR''.
3. SINCE MFN STATUS IS LIKELY TO COME UP IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S DISCUSSIONS, IT COULD BE USEFUL TO REFER TO THIS FRIENDLY EXCHANGE.
WILSON
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