c)
d)
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To emphasise the importance of fulfilling the spirit and the letter of the Joint Declaration, as interpreted by the Chinese side.
To exchange views on international issues; particularly to hear our assessment of East West relations following the Geneva Summit and to agree that increased contacts with the Soviet Union represent no change in Chinese alignment.
Programme
5. An outline programme is attached at Annex A (this is still subject to final confirmation by the Chinese, but is unlikely to be changed significantly). The main political substance of the visit will be in Peking where Mr Renton will have two rounds of formal talks with Vice Minister Zhou Nan.
He will also have shorter, but important, meetings with Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian and the Head of the State Council Office for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, Ji Pengfei; and a meeting with a Vice Minister in the State Economic Commission.
6.
In Shanghai, Canton and Shenzhen, Mr Renton will have meetings with local leaders. We still await confirmation of their identities.
Talks
7. It will be difficult to cover all the ground in the time available, over half of which will probably be taken up with interpretation. The welcoming and return dinners will howver provide our opportunity to pursue outstanding points with Zhou Nan.
8. A checklist of the primary points to make on each subject is attached at Annex B.
9. It might be sensible to suggest that the first round of formal talks with Zhou Nan (18 January) cover international issues: this would allow more time to prepare for the potentially less straightforward bilateral and Hong Kong discussions. The Chinese have agreed to an agenda covering all the subjects indicated in folder B; they have themselves proposed discussions of East West relations (including arms. control), Sino-Soviet relations, Afghanistan and Cambodia. If time runs out, the subjects which for us would be easiest to jettison are: Sino-Japanese relations, Sino-Indian relations and the Middle East.
10. At the second round (20 January), it would be appropriate after some general remarks on bilateral
relations (brief No 3a) to begin with Hong Kong. Mr Renton
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/will
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