TNAG-0858-FCO40-1068-Proposed-UK-China-bilateral-shipping-agreement-1979 — Page 118

ODE 18-77

SS 8/78

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Her 175/2.

Нек RECEIVED IN Low

- 2 MAR 1979

DESK OF

PS/PUSS CA&S

INDEX

PA

No

J23

30. 51

TRY

Refrence

FSR 3164/6

AceMr Steele

Mr Morris

Mae Brown

Dep Sec

SP

SP3C

Mr Priston CREA Mr Samuel

FED, FCO

UK/CHINA MARITIME AGREEMENT

In my submission of 20 December reporting on the state of play over the Maritime Agreement, I undertook to inform PUSS CA&S if we considered that the bilateral Economic Co-operation Agreement, which we hope will be signed during the Secretary of State for Industry's current visit to China, seemed a better route for developing our shipping relations with China.

We have concluded that, whilst the Haritime Agreement remains the most appropriate means of furthering our shipping relations with China generally, we can make use of the negotiations on the Economic Co-operation Agreement in order to impress upon the Chinese that we expect our shipping companies to have a reasonable share of the carriage of increased trade between our two countries. Accordingly the senior Department of Trade official in Mr Varley's party, Mr Priston, will seek to negotiate such an understanding with the Chinese during the visit.

Mr Priston will also tell the Chinese that we are now ready to resume discussion on the Maritime Agreement. It is probable that there would be an initial round of discussions through the Embassy followed, depending upon the outcome, by substantive negotiations involving officials from here.

I will keep you informed of developments.

Ca

Розы

A J Pryor

SP3

V/S705 X 5624

23 February 1979

Mr Williamsen

I did not discuss uk/china Maritime Agreement, t

meeting today with Mr. Brown (SP/OOT).

must

probable

Any real dipolatly await the infinity of this the Varley mission,

return of

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Is

Samuel fors Ind

لسا

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Hayward

is

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Copes to

Questill is Ramsing. ↑ Williamsong 2.3 duhing 8228/2

franel that witheaching. The

Grief which

that

I agreed with us

states clearly

set out in its is Poiston will

Brown of SP3 for reasons para 6 only vention the writing

Agreement if the Chinese ack acout it. Ÿ, consequently seems oves optimisti (in Dot Farmed.

JT Wm se field 27/i