TNAG-0335-FCO40-371-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 108

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BRIEF

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PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Department

VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CUINA:

29 OCTOBER TO 2 NOV MBER 1972

STEERING BRIEF

1.

Following our agreement in March to exchange

Ambassadors with the Chineso People's Republic the

Secretary of State decided that he should visit China

at a time convenient to ourselves and the Chinese.

His visit will be the first ever to China by a British

Foreign Secretary in office. It was preceded by the

visit of Mr Royle between 30 Hay and 6 June. Mr Royle

was only the third British Minister to visit China

since the establishment of the People's Republic in

1949. No Foreign Ministers from any Western country

had visited China before this year, but since February

the following have done so: Mr Rogers (accompanying

Fresident lixon) in February; M Schumann in July;

Mr Sharp in August; Mr Chira (accompanying Mr Tanaka)

in September; and Herr Scheel in October.

Layout of Briefs

2. This Steering Brief covers most of the issues

which ere likely to be brought up by the Chinese

Foreign Minister, Mr Chi P'eng-fei, end the issues

which the Secretary of State will wish to broach in

talking to Fr Chi and other Chinese Ministers.

Steering Brief is accompanied by:

The

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