TNAG-2347-FCO40-3416-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--Italy-and-China-1991 — Page 4

FROM:

PS

TO:

PS/Number 10

RESTRICTED

MESSAGE FROM THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER

As requested in your letter of 1 October I enclose a

draft reply from the Prime Minister to Mr Andreotti's

message about his recent visit to China. The reply also acknowledges Mr Andreotti's earlier message (of 17 September) sent in response to the Prime Minister's

message ០៧ his own visit.

Mr Andreotti dwells on the human rights and international aspects of his discussions. Another

important objective which he was pursuing was the promotion of Italy's commercial interests in China: the Italian Foreign Trade Minister is to visit Peking in November. Mr Andreotti issued a general invitation to Li Peng to visit Italy. We understand that any visit i s unlikely before 1993 at the earliest.

Mr Andreotti s message refers to the Prime

Minister's 27 November meeting in Rome with him as a

'traditional summit' This is not the case. This letter would be an opportunity to remind Mr Andreotti of what we

have in mind.

•

RESTRICTED