CM James Esą CMG PARIS
CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
16 July 1979
Dear Kenneth,
ANGLO-FRENCH CONSULTATIONS ON ASIA
1. I am conscious that I have not sent you my suggestions about the agenda for my talks with Noiville on 26 July, but since I returned late on 4 July from my last Asian trip I have been much preoccupied with the refugee problem. This suggests that at the least it might be useful if at the outset we could review the outcome of the Geneva conference with particular reference to the political aspects and relations with the Indo-China states. We might then go on to consider the problem of Kampuchea (the dangers of famine and its political future), the threat to Thailand and relations with ASEAN countries individually and as a group.
2. I should also like to exchange views on China internal and external policies. I realise that Noiville is likely to be hesitant about even a brief mention of defence sales, but I wonder if he could be persuaded to agree to an exchange of views on where we have both reached on the handling of sales.
3. We are holding Anglo-Korean talks on 16/17 July. So a discussion on relations with Korea would be timely. Sonoda will be in London on 18 July and it would be interesting to review briefly Japanese foreign policies.
4.
In South Asia I suggest that we might concentrate on India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. I don't want to pursue the nuclear issue in any detail but it is inevitably a major element in our relations with India and Pakistan and I would not wish to ignore this aspect entirely.
5. I do not know how much time will be left for the Pacific but I should be happy to discuss future policies towards the Islands in the light of the forthcoming independence of the New Hebrides.
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
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