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| Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath and
late Chairman Mao Zedong at a meeting in May 1974 in Beijing.(File
photo) |
Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath, a long-standing friend of
China, died of pneumonia on Sunday aged 89.
Heath paid a total of 26 visits to China over a period of 27 years,
with the first being in 1974 when he met late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong
and Deng Xiaoping.
Heath's visits to China in the 1970s helped improve relations between
China and the West, and it was his government that established full
diplomatic relations with China in 1972.
In the 1980s, his visits and numerous meetings
with Deng also played a key role in the Sino-UK negotiations on China's
resumption
of the exercise
of sovereignty over Hong Kong.
Deng outlined the overall principles on how to solve the Hong Kong
issue during talks with Heath in April 1982, giving vital impetus to tough
negotiations between the two countries.
The basis of "one country, two systems," proposed by Deng, "is entirely
new, and was created specifically to address Hong Kong's needs. I believe
it can work successfully," Heath said at the time.
"The safe and peaceful return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 was a
historic and moving event" and was also the best outcome for the Chinese
mainland, Hong Kong and Britain and for the whole world as well, Heath
added.
Speaking about Deng in an interview with the Xinhua
News Agency in 2004, Heath said: "His personality was quiet, but also
intense. He thought things out beforehand. He
never hesitated."
"And he did have a great vision of China, a very broad vision, also of
its relations with other countries when he introduced reforms and
opening-up policies in 1978," Heath added.
Heath had two long talks with Mao in 1974 and 1975, a great many
meetings with Deng and also met then President Jiang.
(China Daily) | 
Updated: 2005-07-19 09:03
