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BRITISH EMBASSY LISBON
a
saluter
W 3117.
23 November 1984
Y
PA
on Mcco fle
Our Ref: 027/3
I C Orr Esq FED
FCO
НСК 02014
14LLC 1934
Dear Or,
7
7/
VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF CHINA TO PORTUGAL
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1. Li Xianman, the Chinese President (so described by the Portuguese media), in company with the Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian, paid a State Visit to Portugal from 16-19 November. They both fulfilled the standard engagements for such visits (Lisbon and Oporto Town Halls, Sintra Palace, etc) and had a series of meetings with President Eanes, Mario Soares and Jaime Gama. We have asked Eanes' diplomatic advisers and the MFA for their impressions.
2. There have been a number of recent visits by Portuguese Ministers to China (most recently the Vice Prime Minister Mota Pinto earlier this year) and Eanes is expected to pay a State Visit before the end of his Presidential term next year (probably in April or May). Mario Soares visited China in 1980 as Secretary-General of the PS. Despite these contacts, the substance of relations is not yet great. Trade is small (in the first half of 1984 Portugal exported approx £5.5m of goods to China, importing a little more than £2m) and commercial cooperation projects are still only at drawing-board stage. A commercial agreement was signed in 1980, followed by a cultural scientific and technical protocol in 1982.
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International affairs were well ventilated during the visit. Li condemned the arms race as "a serious threat to world peace" Peaceful coexistence of different systems was necessary and Li praised the role Portugal had played in this area, particularly in Africa. China was also determined to concern herself more with the outside world, and saw Western Europe as a useful source of equilibrium between the two superpowers. He hoped Chinese relations with Portugal would intensify.
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