TNAG-1632-FCO40-2248-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-1987 — Page 296

CONFIDENTIAL

EPARTMENTS' PROPOSALS FOR VISITS OVERSEAS BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND FCO MINISTERS

(for completion by geographical Department)

1.

Minister

2.

i

Country

3.

Objective

MR RENTON

CHINA

Policy discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues.

4.

Arguments

5.

Timing

Mr Renton has yet to make a substantial visit to China. We need to maintain the momentum in the relationship with China, and attempt to deepen and broaden the dialogue to cover a wider range of issues of mutual interest, in the wake of the State Visit and other high level exchanges in 1985 and 1986.

For logistic reasons it would be ideal to combine this with a visit to Japan (see separate pro-forma). The Christmas recess would perhaps be the most suitable, because of the length of time involved, and to distance. the visit from an incoming one by Foreign Minister Wu, which is hoped will take place earlier in the autumn.

CONFIDENTIAL

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