TNAG-1871-FCO40-2659-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1989 — Page 99

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R. Martin Lees

CHINA AND THE WORLD

IN

THE NINETIES

Summary Report

December 5, 1988

1. At the invitation of the government of the People's Republic of China, a group of nineteen international personalities visited Beijing in May 1988 for a private meeting with the leading Chinese decision makers. The meeting, on "China and the World in the Nineties" took place in the Great Hall of the People and the State Guest House from 30th May to 2nd June 1988.

2.

There were some thirty top-level Chinese participants, including ministers, vice ministers, senior government advisers, chief executives from state banks and corporations and distinguished scholars. The discussions were informal and very frank, even on sensitive policy issues: the meeting is considered to have had an important impact on the most senior levels of the Chinese government.

3.

The international visitors had the rare honour of extensive discussions with Premier Li Peng, with General Secretary Zhao Ziyang and, on an additional day, with Senior Leader Deng Xiaoping.

A.

The Chinese government has now decided, in October, to follow up on the meeting by inviting two international groups to Beijing during 1989. These will have private discussions with the leadership on two specific issues: first, in May on "The Reform of the Financial and Banking System in China," and second, in October on "Increasing the Flow of Foreign Investment into China." There will then be another meeting of a broader, more strategic nature in spring 1990.

5. The Chinese Authorities have demonstrated an unusual willingness to expose their policies to international discussion. Also, on a number of points, they have taken account in practice of the experience, ideas and comments expressed by the international participants.

6.

The host institution for this programme has been the Research Center for Economic, Technological and Social Development of the State Council, under the leadership of its President, Professor Ma Hong and its Vice-President, Wu Mingyu. (This center is now known as the Development Research Center of the State Council.) Martin Lees has been asked by the Chinese to be the coordinator of the project on the international side.