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on Joke #2021/1
Re-highlighted section I para 3. Contributen
as attaches sent to
Min Section, for. (Mn Cox agread).
Mr Morris Mr Seaton
HLI Davies
FROM:
Far Eastern Department
18 December 1991
DATE:
CC:
PS
PS/Lord Caithness
Mr Burns
PS/PUS
Sir J Coles
Mr Ricketts, HKD Head/NPDD
Head/ESED
Mr Cooper, Planners Head/Soviet Dept
JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKING
1. Tanaka told me last night that Mr Watanabe would be visiting Peking between 3 and 6 January. He was instructions to convey
under us a number of messages about this visit. He will circulate these later today in writing, but the gist is that:
(a)
(b)
(c)
the Japanese Government wish to keep us closely informed about this contact with China as part of our on-going political consultation;
Japanese policy towards China continues to be governed by the line taken in the Chairman's summary at the G7 Summit in London; the essence is to avoid isolating China and to encourage China by discreet contact to play a constructive role in the world;
Mr Watanabe would be glad to convey any messages the Chinese on subjects of importance to us; he would do so in his own words, presenting these as subjects of interest to Japan.
2. I told Tanaka that I welcomed this approach. I would ensure that it was given urgent attention. I would also endeavour to arrange that we conveyed any response in writing, as he requested.
to
3. The Japanese have in the past been helpful in speaking to the Chinese about Hong Kong matters.
There are, I think,
a number of points which the Japanese could again get across
HDI AFT
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