Chou-Ceausescu talks end

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32629, 10 June 1971, Page 11

Chou-Ceausescu talks end

(’N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

HONG KONG, June 9.

The Chinese Prime Minister (Mr Chou En-lai) has called on Rumania to continue to pursue her independent line.

Mr Chou was speaking at a reception in Peking last night given by the Rumanian President, Mr Ceausescu, and his wife for their Chinese hosts at the end of their official visit to China. “We wish from the bottom of our hearts that, in your undertaking of building your Socialist fatherland, and in your struggle against imperialist aggression for national independence and State sovereignty, you will make new achievements and win new victories continuously,” Mr Chou declared.

Rumania has remained neutral in the Chinese-Rus-sian ideological dispute, and, generally, has remained politically independent, despite pressure from Moscow. She has also shown persistent reluctance to integrate her economy with the Soviet bloc grouping as fully as the Russians would like. Mr Chou’s remarks are seen as encouragement to Rumania not to give in to any pressure from Moscow. The New China News Agency reports that talks between the Chinese and Rumanian leaders ended yesterday. No details of the discussions have been publicly disclosed, but there is speculation in Hong Kong that they may have been centred on Chinese aid. China apparently recognises the need to bolster Rumania’s independent line by helping to shore up her economy, which was shaken by disastrous spring floods last year. The Rumanian delegation includes one of the country’s leading economists, the First Secretary of the Communist Party (Mr Manea Manescu).

Mr Ceausescu said he was confident that the Peking talks would have historic significance for world peace. His visit has given rise to speculation about an important East-West diplomatic initiative because he is one of the few world leaders with good lines of communication with Peking, Moscow and Washington.

As Mr Ceausescu prepares to leave Peking, the Jugoslav Foreign Minister (Mr Mirko Tepavic) is on his way there for an official visit lasting a week.

China recently appointed a new Ambassador to Czechoslovakia the first since the Cultural Revolution, and all these moves are seen by observers as an attempt by Peking to undermine Soviet Union influence in Eastern Europe.