CONFIDENTIAL
importance we attach to the improvement in our
relations and to the improvement in China's
relations with the West in general. While we
recognise that important differences in principles
and policies still divide us, we believe that
there is a clear need for a more frequent
dialogue in order to minimise these differences.
The Secretary of State might congratulate
Mr Chi F'eng-fei on China's seating in the United
Nations last year and on their performance there.
He might add that we look forward to the visits
to the United Kingdom of Mr Chi P'eng-fei and
Mr Ch'iao Kuan-hua. We think it desirable to
continue exchanges of Ministerial visits; we
see merit in regular exchanges of such visits,
say at yearly intervals. It is quite possible
in this connexion that the Chinese may extend
an invitation to the Prime Minister through the
Secretary of State. In that case the Secretary
of State will wish to confirm that the Prime
Minister is glad to accept the invitation in
principle. The precise dates can be settled
later, but Autumn 1973 would be convenient to
Mr Heath. Fa Surn fir Heath woul like to invite
Premier Chou En-lai to visit Britain at a
Volete
Conveniort time
f
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7. The Secretary of State will wish to refer
to the Chinese invitation to The Queen, conveyed
by the Chinese Ambassador when he presented his
credentials, and to say that Her Majesty has
been very pleased to receive this invitation,
/but that
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