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to hear directly from Zhao about his visit to the United States.) The Australians have asked for interviews with Deng and with Hu Yao Bang. I understand (in confidence) that officials are recommending that Mr Hawke should invite the latter to visit Australia as the equivalent of a Head of State, although they believe that Hu travels infrequently and may not accept. They expect two days of talks with Zhao, the first on international affairs and the second on bilateral issues. International affairs, apart from Sino/US relationships and regional security issues, are likely to include Chinese nuclear testing, where the Australians are likely to make their standard protest, and Cambodia. The Australians and the Chinese have reached a "gentlemen's agreement" to respect but not accept each other's position on this issue, although officials here are worried about the possibility of incidents during the current Vietnamese offensive against CGDK camps, which may make the issue more difficult. The Australians also speculate that the Chinese may wish to discuss the South Pacific with them. The Chinese have apparently asked in the past for Australian help in persuading Pacific island states to establish relations with the PRC. (At the moment, about half of them have relations with Taiwan.) The Australians have agreed only to say that their own experience of relations with China has been a positive one. The Australians also expect Hong Kong to come up, but officials have told us that Australia will take a low profile.
9.
As regards bilateral issues, officials are recommending that Mr Hawke should broach the subject of the Chinese attitude to human rights. The reasoning behind this is that, as Australia's relationship with China develops, China's poor human rights record will be increasingly criticised here. The Australian Government cannot prevent such criticism, and as a matter of principle would not wish to. The DFA are therefore anxious that, before irritation is caused, Mr Hawke should take this opportunity to explain to the Chinese that a developing and maturing relationship must allow for a certain degree of criticism and difference of principle. This will not be said in a crusading attempt to improve China's human rights performance, but rather to anticipate and reduce any harm that may be caused to the relationship. The Australians have no illusions about the liberalisation of China, which in their view is economic liberalisation only.
10. Officials have also told us (in confidence) of various smaller bilateral measures which it is hoped to have ready for Mr Hawke to raise and announce. These include the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on the technical development programme, part of the Australian aid programme to China, and an agreement on coordinating agricultural exchanges. There are already several agreements relating to agricultural matters; the one presently contemplated would be in the nature of an umbrella agreement. The Australians are also considering
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