CHINESE Foreign Minister Qian Qichen will visit the UK from October 2 to 4 to hold talks with senior figures including Prime Minister John Major, it was announced yesterday.
'The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations, including the question of Hong Kong,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Jian, said.
'The Chinese side hopes this visit will improve bilateral relations and benefit co-operation between the two countries on the issue of Hong Kong.' But in London, ministers warned not to expect too much from the visit, saying it was a 'stepping stone' towards better relations between London and Beijing after recent agreements on the Court of Final Appeal and airport financing.
British ministers will be anxious to explore how progress in the Joint Liaison Group can be speeded up and to discuss issues such as the right of abode, the status of the Special Administrative Region passport, and even the handover ceremonies.
But given the fact China likes to make major announcements from Beijing rather than when its ministers are overseas, no key decisions are expected to be made public in London.
Mr Qian will also meet Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine, who is widely credited with improving relations when he led Britain's biggest ever trade mission to China in May.