§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to discuss with her European Economic Community counterparts the normalisation of relations with China; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterPolicy towards China has been regularly discussed within the Community and the measures adopted last year have been kept under review. We have been advocating for some time a steady resumption of normal relations. The subject is likely to be discussed again at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 22–23 October.
§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to allow her Ministers to resume normal visits to China; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI hope that we can agree shortly with our Community partners on a steady resumption of normal Ministerial visits to and from China. Our partners have of course also always accepted our special need to maintain contact with China over Hong Kong.
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§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to seek to persuade the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to resume normal lending to China; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterChina has not sought recently to borrow from the IMF. We fully supported the decision taken at the Houston economic summit in July to consider World Bank loans to China that would contribute to the reform of the Chinese economy, especially loans that would address environmental concerns.