Secretary of
or state
174)
CONFIDENTIAL
нив отды
- 7 JUL 1988
Lord Glenarthur
From: Date: 6 July 1988
CC:
All Ministers
PUS
GL
Chief Clerk
121
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Mr Caines, BODA
Mr McLaren
Mr Slater
Miss Pestell
Mr Moss
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19 JUL 1988
SEAD
UND
INOL
Secretary of State
Planning Staff
PUSD
OED
News Department CRD
Information Dept
Mr Fergusson
Mr Teasdale
VISIT TO THAILAND, CHINA AND HONG KONG
1.
I returned at the weekend from a visit to Peking and two other provincial capitals in China. I spent a day in Bangkok on the way, talking to the MFA about Cambodia and a number of minor bilateral points; and had two hectic days in Hong Kong at the end.
2. I am sure you would agree that no amount of reading beforehand can adequately prepare a visitor for the full impact of China. It was in many ways very different from my preconceptions. I was struck by the relatively relaxed and dogma-free atmosphere both in the streets and in my talks; by the evidence of prosperity in the cities, where there is a massive amount of building work going on and free markets do booming business, and in the countryside, where smart new farmhouses are springing up almost everywhere.
3. I had a good session of talks, continued over two meals, with Zhou Nan, as well as a friendly meeting with Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, who said he was keen to maintain the close relationship you had developed with his predecessor. Zhou Nan responded positively to what I said about the need
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