65
MUCD 021/4
RECEIVE
18 NOV 1993
Me T Tot вт
ри
lut Sup Europe.
1574
RECORD OF A CALL ON MR GOODLAD BY THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR:
27 OCTOBER AT 16.00
Present: Minister of State
Private Secretary
Mr Upton (WED)
M Jean Gueguinou
(French Ambassador)
1. The Minister welcomed the Ambassador.
British-French
relations were very good. What would be M Gueguinou's priorities? The Ambassador replied that he would work to keep
our dialogue strong.
2. The Minister asked about M Gueguinou's previous posting in Eastern Europe. The Ambassador said he was optimistic about the Czech Republic in the longer term, after it overcomes its economic difficulties, but less so for Slovakia. Mitterrand was due to have breakfast in Prague with Havel on 9 December, the President's third visit there. He asked Mr Goodlad about Asia. The Minister outlined our plans to hold elections in Hong Kong in the next 2 years. Despite Chinese difficulties over the territory, our exports to China had increased 90% this year. Our exports to other Asian markets were up on average by 30%. The Ambassador said that this was also a big market for France. He noted that the Governor of Hong Kong had cancelled his proposed visit to France.
3. The Minister said he looked forward to visiting Paris for a Trade Show on 29/30 November. He also hoped to call on the Quai. Bilateral trade was rather flat at present, but Britain and France were each others' third largest trading partner. The Ambassador noted the extent of British investment in
France.
4.
The Ambassador raised the South Pacific; both Britain and France had important strategic interests. But why was Britain withdrawing from the South Pacific Commission? The Minister replied that we had belonged to the Commission simply because of Pitcairn. Our withdrawal was for budgetary reasons; aid programme in the Pacific would continue.
our
5. The Minister raised GATT. Little time was left for an agreement. The Ambassador said that public opinion in France
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.