4KB 020/6
63
HIGH LEVEL VISITS TO AND FROM CHINA
1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
2.
I see no difficulty with three of these recommendations:
it is obviously sensible to postpone the Sultan of Brunei until 1991 (or possibly later if the House of Fraser affair turns very sour);
a visit at Prime Ministerial level in one direction would be appropriate for 1991;
the Secretary of State could well visit Peking in 1990. At the last meeting of the Ministerial Visits Committee we had envisaged a full Far Eastern/South-East Asian tour as a centerpiece for travel in 1990, including some or all of China, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. But if the Secretary of State is making a separate bilateral visit for talks in Tokyo early in 1990, the proposed tour could be split in two, with Peking in either part.
The difficult decision is what to do with the slot released by postponement of the Sultan of Brunei's State Visit. President Yang is a possible candidate, but so is President Cossiga of Italy. Yang is old and a dubious investment. The Italians have quite a strong claim as a close ally despite their sorry performance in cancelling
Ministers will want the last State Visit at short notice.
to consider carefully whether to give preference to Yang in 1990 or to leave his visit in 1991 as originally envisaged. I do not think there are overwhelming arguments in favour of
Since my departmental one course rather than the other. responsibilities include Italy but not China, I will refrain from indicating a preference.
5 May, 1989
c.c. Mr Gillmore
Mr Hervey /Mr Ratford
Mr McLaren
Mr Millington, FED
Mr Paul, HKD
Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Macleod, Protocol Dept
CONFIDENTIAL
Joh
J
John Fretwell
Ra
Miss Mansen
N
Mr Folyon 9/5
Набили
Wo/%
8/5
papi
се
ре
Miss Ethot
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