China call for border accords

Press, 8 March 1978, Page 8

China call for border accords

NZPA-Reuter Peking China’s Prime Minister (Mr Hua Kuo-feng) said the Soviet Union was clinging to a policy of hostility towards Peking while professing a desire to improve relations. Mr Hua in a speech to the first Parliament in three i years, called on Moscow to prove by actions its sincerity for better relations. First, he said, the Russians should sign an agreement to maintain the status quo on the Sino-Soviet border, avert armed clashes, and disengage forces on both sides of the disputed frontier.

Then the two Communist Powers should enter into boundary negotiations.

Mr Hua made his speech to Parliament on February 26, but the text was not released until yesterday. Mr Hua was re-elected Prime Minister at the closing session.

Mr Hua said Peking and Moscow must continue to differ on matters of principle, but this should not impede normal State relations. He said: “The debates on matters of principle must go on. At the same time, we have always held that such debates should not impede the maintenance of norma] State relations.”

Another development from the Parliamentary session is the decision to abolish many

of the revolutionary committees, which were born out of the Cultural Revolution in the mid-19605.

According to the full text of his report to Parliament on the work of the Government released yesterday, Mr Hua said revolutionary committees would be elected This year in areas directly under provincial authority, iin autonomous prefectures and counties, and in communes.

They would also be retained in factories, mines, and other enterprises where political administration was integrated with management, he said. However, the committees would be abolished at pro-

ivincial level and in all other (organisations that did not i form an actual level of government.

Observers saw this as a return to formal management structures in an effort to brin back stable administration after more than a decade of political and economic turmoil. Mr Hua made it clear that China’s relations with the United States were still hindered by Taiwan. He said relations with the United States could not be normal until the Americans cut all ties with Taiwan.

“This is the u. erving stand of the Chinese Government,” he declared.