PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
ник
04011
VAPRESA
BRITISH EMBASSY,
PEKING.
132A
M Elliott Esq Far Eastern Dept
FCO
Dear Mark
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
1.
•
•
22 March 1982
11 Pero 714
Av
Mr. Mcdunt 6/4 Mr. William Jr.4
Mr. Morris 614
33/3
17
Mr GHKED Au Mellan TRED
I held a dinner on 19 March for the Tenth Anniversary of Sino-British relations at Ambassadorial level. Apart from Huang Hua, we had Zhang Canming, the Vice Foreign Minister, Jia Shi, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Zhou Erfu, Vice Minister in the Commission for Cultural Relations, and Huan Xiang, Vice President of the Academy of Social Sciences. All went very amiably. The dinner, and the fact of Lord Carrington's message, were publicised in Xinhua.
N2 30.7%
2. In my speech I suggested that although we had done very well, we could do a lot better, in particular that trade figures could better reflect our excellent political relations. I also said I was sure that both sides would ensure that the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit would be both successful and productive.
He
3. In a talk with Huang Hua I stressed the importance of the 051 project and said how unfortunate it would be if this failed a few months before the Prime Minister came. said he would have to make enquiries. I don't frankly expect his interest or intervention will be in any way decisive, but the point was taken.
4.
On the Guangdong nuclear project he was very cagey, stressing the size of the project and mentioning the possibility
I don't attach of power from some other conventional source. too much weight to this: he is not close to the Guangdong issue, but so far of course the decision, even in principle, has not yet been made.
On trade generally, both he and Jia Shi harped on the question of loans at concessionary rates.
5.
6.
On Sino-US relations, he said he was not at all optimistic. This had a genuine ring to it and was less a statement for western consumption than his remarks at the recent European Community dinner. Huan Xiang was also rather gloomy.
When I
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