CONFIDENTIAL
CORRECTED VERSION
RECEIVE
HKK 1206027/2
JUUSTRY
16 APR 1984
DECK OFFICER
00 PEKING
GRS 980
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 101800Z APR 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 353 OF 10 APRIL
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
MIPT: SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT
1.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF DRAFT SUBMITTED TODAY FOR SPEECH
BY SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE CHINESE WELCOMING BANQUET ON
16 APRIL.
2. BEGINS:
YOUR EXCELLENCY FOREIGN MINISTER WU, YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ;
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE FOR ME AND MY WIFE TO BE WITH YOU
TONIGHT. I HAVE LONG BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING TO
CHINA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS VISIT HAS TO BE SO
SHORT, LEAVING NO OPPORTUNITY TO SEE MORE OF YOUR GREAT
COUNTRY. BUT I ALREADY UNDERSTAND WHY THE HOSPITALITY
WHICH YOU ACCORD TO YOUR GUESTS IS SO FAMOUS. ON BEHALF OF
MY WIFE AND THOSE ACCOMPANYING ME, I SHOULD THEREFORE FIRST
LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WARMTH OF YOUR WELCOME AND FOR
THE METICULOUS PREPARATIONS YOU HAVE MADE FOR US.
SINCE I BECAME FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY LAST
YEAR, I HAVE TAKEN A CLOSE INTEREST IN DEVELOPMENTS IN
CHINA. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR BRITAIN, AND FOR THE WORLD IN
GENERAL, THAT CHINA SHOULD BE A STABLE, PROSPEROUS, STRONG
AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. I HAVE
THEREFORE BEEN MUCH ENCOURAGED AND IMPRESSED BY THE RAPID
GROWTH WHICH YOUR ECONOMY IS CURRENTLY ENJOYING. I
WELCOME THE STEADY EVOLUTION OF YOUR OPEN DOOR POLICY
TOWARDS TRADE AND EXCHANGES WITH YOUR FRIENDS OVERSEAS
AND THE PRAGMATIC APPROACH WHICH YOU HAVE ADOPTED. I AM
SURE THAT THIS WILL BE A VITAL ELEMENT IN CHINA'S FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT. BRITAIN AND CHINA HAVE MUCH TO GAIN FROM
TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION. GREATER UNDERSTANDING
1
CONFIDENTIAL
See (210)
PA
(ynst of file) 7/2013/4
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