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visit to discuss Kampuchea, and the Head of Government of a socialist state in Africa (Burkino Faso) had also made a working visit. Former President Richard Nixon' was in Beijing immediately following the Western Samoan Prime Minister.
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As reported by Peking, Tofilau received a degree of high-level attention unusual for a visit of this nature, having calls on General Secretary Jiang Zemin, President Yang Shangkun, Chairman of the NPC, Wan Li, and Premier Li Peng. For each of the calls, different issues were dealt with by the Chinese interlocutors, suggesting that each had been tasked to this end.
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Li Peng raised the subject of Hong Kong because of the Chinese perception that the United Kingdom had at CHOGM sought to internationalise the issue. Poloma Komiti, Head, Political Section, Foreign Affairs, who was part of the Prime Minister's party, explained that Mrs Thatcher had at Kuala Lumpur referred to recent events in the region as not being so conducive to the economic stability and continued strength of Hong Kong. The Chinese had got to hear of this, to the extent that the Chinese Ambassador in Thailand had raised the issue with the party while it was in Thailand prior to travelling to China. Li Peng said that, if there was any attempt made to have the future of Hong Kong discussed internationally, China would look to Western Samoa to dissuade the United
Kingdom from pursuing such a course. Tofilau responded sympathetically, noting that Hong Kong was a matter for the United Kingdom and China to resolve between them.
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There was a brief reference in discussion with Li Peng to the events in Tianenmen Square. Li Peng rehearsed the standard line that the authorities were obliged to take the steps necessary to restore law and order. In showing Tofilau around the Square, Li Peng had no hesitation in pointing out where various events had occurred - he was clearly unrepentant over what had occurred. It is clear from Tofilau's private comments to us prior to the visit to the effect that the Chinese had really only done what any Government might be obliged to do in order to restore order - and his reported comments during the visit that the events of June were unfortunate but an internal matter for China, that Tofilau did not register with the Chinese any particular concerns about the human rights implications of events in June and since.
Bilateral issues were also discussed with Li Peng, the main one being the question of future development assistance and in particular the level of China's financial contribution to the proposed new Governmental complex on the waterfront in Apia. The Chinese had earlier committed themselves to a loan of 10 million yuan (around WS$6 million) for the project and sent an appraisal team to Apia a couple of months ago. Government had favoured a 12 storey building, but the team
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