TNAG-1339-FCO40-1771-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 396

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

9. The trade brief will be the most important non-Hong

Kong brief, aimed solely at achieving the objective

outlined in para 4(iii) above. We envisage that it would

contain the following main elements:

i) eagerness to explore all new opportunities to

increase trade with China, including trade involving Hong

Kong.

The Prime Minister could refer to the momentum

generated by the Hong Kong agreement and the intrinsic

scope for more trade. Points to cover include the match

between Chinese economic priorities (energy, transport,

communications, natural resources, agriculture) and

British expertise; and emphasis on quality (a British

strong point) as being as important as price (on which

the Chinese have sometimes criticised us);

ii) a proposal for a major commercial visit in early

1985 by a delegation of senior British businessmen, led

perhaps by a Minister, to pursue opportunities in

specific projects and sectors; the need for careful

preparation;

iii) brief discussions of specific projects and areas.

The Prime Minister will wish to mention the Guangdong

Nuclear Project.

(The situation on this is developing

rapidly and the right points to take up during the visit

will not be clear until shortly before the Prime Minister

departs. We therefore envisage that briefing be in the

form of a separate self-contained Annex to the main trade

The DTI will identify other suitable projects.

brief).

CONFIDENTIAL