HC Deb 28 July 1982 vol 28 c515W
Mr. Adley

asked the Prime Minister if she will study the COCOM agreement prior to her visit to China; and if, having regard to the fact that her visit is aimed at developing the existing friendly relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the People's Republic of China, she will, prior to that visit, hold conversations with other countries within COCOM with a view to securing the removal of China from the COCOM list.

The Prime Minister

We shall naturally be considering all aspects of our relations with China before my visit. I have to say, however, that the unanimous agreement of our partners would be needed to remove any country from the COCOM list. Although the export of strategic goods to China remains subject to COCOM controls, these are now applied more flexibly than before, following a United Kingdom initiative.