CONFIDENTIAL
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OF 281107Z NOVEMBER 91
CONFIDENTIAL
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MFN
Mme 2
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO SAVING SHANGHAI
728
035271
MDHIAN 3931
LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT: CALL ON TIAN ZENGPEI, 27 NOVEMBER: BILATERAL/GENERAL
SUMMARY
1.
LORD CAITHNESS STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THE MOMENTUM VISITS. NEED FOR SPECIFIC PROGRESS. HELP TO CHINA ON MFN.
BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
OF
DETAIL
2.
VICE FOREIGN MINISTER TIAN ZENGPEI WELCOMED LORD CAITHNESS AND COMMENTED THAT SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS HAD IMPROVED OVER THE
PREVIOUS YEAR AND PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE ON HONG KONG. MUCH HOWEVER REMAINED TO BE DONE. THE VISIT WOULD HELP PROMOTE BILATERAL RELATIONS AND IN SETTLING CERTAIN ISSUES. HE INVITED LORD CAITHNESS TO OPEN THE DISCUSSION.
3. LORD CAITHNESS AGREED THAT THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP HAD
IMPROVED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF
HIGH LEVEL VISITS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
TRANSLATE THE GOOD ATMOSPHERE INTO SPECIFIC PROGRESS.
HÉ LOOKED FORWARD TO QIAN QICHEN'S VISIT TO BRITAIN IN 1992 WHICH WOULD BE DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN MARCH SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LAST FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETING. HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WOULD BE A GENERAL
ELECTION IN BRITAIN SOMETIME IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1992 WHICH
MIGHT CAUSE DIFFICULTY BUT THAT OFFICIALS SHOULD NEVERTHELESS TRY TO ESTABLISH EXACT DATES. TIAN SAID THAT THE IMPROVEMENT IN BILATERAL RELATIONS COULD BE INCREASED THROUGH SUCH VISITS. CHINA WAS READY TO WORK WITH BRITAIN TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM. ALTHOUGH THE TWO COUNTRIES DIFFERED IN SOCIAL VALUES AND SYSTEMS GOOD
RELATIONS COULD BE SUSTAINED BY MUTUAL RESPECT AND SETTING ASIDE DIFFERENCES.
4. TIAN SAID THAT ZOU JIAHUA'S VISIT TO BRITAIN HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE TWO SIDES WERE NOW WORKING TO FINALISE SEVERAL
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