TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 54

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CONFIDENTIAL

PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH MR SONODA, 21 MAY

SPEAKING NOTES

1.

Grateful for Mr Ohira's message and to Mr Sonoda for making contact personally with British Ministers before the Summit. We recognise Japan's important role in the world

of mutual today and wish to keep in close touch on matters

concern political and economic.

Maintaining the Anglo-

Japanese dialogue and strengthening Anglo-Japanese relations

Regret inability

о

are

a high priority for the new Government.

to stay on in Japan after the Summit.

2.

Importance of Japan's contribution to the solution of world economic problems underlined by the holding of the

Summit for the first time in Tokyo.

We must work together

on policies for combatting inflation and unemployment, reducing excessive surpluses and deficits and accommodating higher oil prices and energy shortages. We shall be looking particularly

to surplus countries, including Japan, who have a special responsibility towards their trading partners and towards the oil-less developing countries.

3.

(If time permits) Brief account of the New Government's current priorities and main longer term objectives.

Far Eastern Department

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

18 May 1979

CONFIDENTIAL