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FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 248
OF 042344Z FEBRUARY 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, TOKYO, MOSCOW, PARIS, BONN, ROME
NT
peras
MY TELNO 195: CHINA/US RELATIONS: PRESIDENT BUSH'S MEETING WITH LI
PENG
SUMMARY
1.
A SHORT MEETING, AT WHICH PRESIDENT BUSH PRESSED LI PENG ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND MTCR. THE CHINESE HAVE SINCE SENT A LETTER AFFIRMING IN GENERAL TERMS THEIR INTENTION TO ABIDE BY MTCR GUIDELINES, WHICH IS LIKELY TO SUFFICE.
DETAIL
2. AS FORECAST IN TUR, PRESIDENT BUSH AND LI PENG HELD A BRIEF (15-20 MINUTE) MEETING IN THE MARGINS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
SESSION ON 31 JANUARY.
3.
THE NSC HAVE TOLD US THAT PRESIDENT BUSH PRESSED LI PENG HARD FOR A WRITTEN UNDERTAKING THAT THE CHINESE WOULD ABIDE BY MTCR GUIDELINES. HE EXPLAINED THAT CONGRESS WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS. LI PENG INDICATED THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO PROVIDE
SOMETHING. STATE HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH THEY BELIEVE TO BE ADEQUATE, BUT WHICH THEY ARE STILL CONSIDERING.
4. PRESIDENT BUSH EMPHASISED CONTINUED US CONCERNS ABOUT HUMAN
RIGHTS. LI PENG TOLD BUSH THAT 3 PROMINENT CHINESE ROMAN CATHOLICS (INCLUDING THE BISHOP OF FUJIAN) WOULD SOON BE RELEASED. HUMAN RIGHTS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED AT A SEPARATE MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR SCHIFTER (US AMBASSADOR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS) AND HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART. LITTLE PROGRESS WAS MADE. ACCORDING TO OUR NSC CONTACTS THE CHINESE EVEN SUGGESTED TO SCHIFTER THAT THE PRESIDENT
AVOID RAISING HUMAN RIGHTS IN HIS MEETING WITH LI PENG.
COMMENT
5. THE ADMINISTRATION ARE REASONABLY CONTENT WITH THE OUTCOME OF
1
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