TNAG-0638-FCO40-786-Supplies-of-electricity-for-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 51

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NOTE OF MEETING WITH MR LI CHIANG, MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: 29 NOVEMBER 1977

L..

esent:

cretary of State

Gerhard

Wint

Allan

Novarra

Davies (Embassy in Peking)

Mr Li Chiang, Chinese Minister of Trade Mr Yuan Pao-Hua, Vice Minister of the State

Planning Commission (SPC)

Mr Cheng To-pin, Director, Ministry of Foreign Trade, (FFT)

Mr Sung Chih-Kuang, The Chinese Ambassador Mr Liu Chin-Sheng, Counsellor (Commercial) Mr Shih Wei-San, 3rd Secretary Commercial

7

1 The Secretary of State welcomed Mr Li Chiang, and expressed his honour at being the first Secretary of State Mr Li was meeting on his visit.

2 The Secretary of State explained that much progress had been made, over the last 2 years in particular, in solving Britain's economic problems. The Government was committed to a strategy to improve overall performance and international competitiveness of British industry. The Government had the co-operation of both workforce and management in a joint effort to strengthen the country's industrial base.

3 The Secretary of State illustrated some of the many strengths of British industry.

ENERGY

4 The Secretary of State explained that Britain would be the only European nation which was self-sufficient in energy. Britain had the largest coal industry in Europe, would be self-sufficient in oil by 1980 and had one of the largest programmes for generating electricity from nuclear power. This strong energy base would give the British economy very real strengths.

IRON & STEEL INDUSTRY

5 The Secretary of State explained that the industry was in the course of a major reconstruction and modernisation. He noted that the Chairman of British Steel had written to the Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade inviting a Chinese technical mission to visit the UK and spend a few weeks on a detailed inspection of the facilities which had been modernised in the last 5 years, both in BSC and the private sector. He assured Mr Li that any such visit would have the full support and assistance of the Government.

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