Cable from Géza Kótai, 'Protocol of the China-Consultation of Representatives of CC International Departments of the Ten Fraternal Parties Held on 6-7 December 1983 in Prague'

Budapest, 27 December 1983

Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party

Central Committee

International Department

In accordance with the decision of our responsible organs, enclosed I am sending the Protocol Note to the Report that was published in the Information Bulletin no. 48 prepared for members of the Political Committee and the Secretariat. The Protocol Note was adopted by the representatives of CC international departments of ten fraternal parties at the China consultations held in Prague on 6-7 December.

With fraternal greeting,

Géza Kótai

Recipients:

István Katona CC Bureau

Imre Somogyi Central Control Commission

Ernő Lakatos Agitation and Propaganda Department

László Ballai Economic Policy Department

Péter Varga Public Administration Department

Tibor Baranyai Party and Mass Organizations Department

Sándor Lakatos Party Life

László Karakas Party Finance and Administration Department

Pál Tétényi Department for Sciences, Public Education and Culture

István Huszár Institute for Social Sciences

József Szabó College for Political Studies

Péter Várkonyi Minister of Foreign Affairs

Confidential!

PROTOCOL NOTE

The 13th meeting to consult on the Chinese question held in Prague on 6-7 December 1983 was attended by representatives of CC International Departments of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the Communist Party of Cuba, the Laotian People's Revolutionary Party, the Polish United Workers' Party, the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Communists Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of Vietnam.

In a comradely work atmosphere, the participants of the meeting conducted an exchange of opinions and information on current issues in Chinese domestic and foreign policies – in line with the coordinated evaluation of the Chinese problem included in relevant documents of their parties. Consultations were also held on some practical steps regarding further coordination of the activities of fraternal parties as relations with the Chinese People's Republic are undergoing development, and the differentiated treatment of socialist countries by Beijing is growing more powerful.

Confirming the common principled position agreed upon by fraternal parties regarding the evaluation of the Chinese question, the delegations have stated that certain positive steps have been taken in relations between China and a number of countries in our socialist community, and a political dialogue has commenced with China as a result of the consistent and constructive policy of countries belonging to our community. Further progress in the normalization of relations maintained with China depends, to a great extent, on the development and outcome of social processes in China as well as on the coordination of our China policy and our activities.

1/ Participants of the meeting have emphasized that in the current international situation strained by tensions, when American imperialism has launched a "crusade" against socialism, it would be of great significance to involve the PRC in our joint fight against imperialism, to resort to all possible means in order to loosen ties in military and political cooperation between China, the United States, Japan and NATO member states, and to use all conflicts between the PRC and capitalist states for the benefit of the socialist community.

At the same time it has been stated that although the Chinese leadership has embarked on certain tactical maneuvering in international politics, and has announced to pursue an "independent and autonomous" policy line, the PRC proceeds parallel to imperialism or even takes action on their side regarding a number of fundamental issues and crucial questions (such as Euro-missiles, Afghanistan, Cambodia, US-Japan military cooperation, etc.);

In this context it has been confirmed that the appeal addressed to the Chinese government by the leaders of six fraternal countries in July 1983 remains topical. The appeal urged for solidarity in the face of escalating imperialist threat, and expressed the efforts of these countries to channel PRC's foreign policy in a direction that is beneficial to peace and socialism.

The principled position and goodwill of socialist countries regarding the development of relations with the PRC were formulated in the interview given by comrade I. V. Andropov on 27 August this year, and in statements made by leaders of fraternal parties of other countries belonging to the socialist community. These stressed the willingness to settle state-to-state relations, and to continue a political dialogue with China on key issues in the international situation.

The above mentioned appeals by fraternal countries were met with a basically negative response by the Chinese leadership. The Chinese leadership gave negative responses again to other constructive initiatives by socialist countries that aimed at the consolidation of peace and security in the Far East, taking measures to strengthen trust along the Soviet-Chinese borderline, and establishing a peace and security zone in South East Asia. The Chinese leadership extends political support to United States and NATO measures to deploy new missile-nuclear weapons in Europe. All this indicates that Beijing has no wish to support socialist countries in their efforts to prevent a nuclear war or to preserve peace, and consequently it has no intention to assume a class [socialist] position on crucial issues of our times.

2/ The delegations have exchanged views on the differentiation policy which the Beijing leadership conducts towards socialist countries. The delegations have underlined that the further strengthening of the unity of fraternal parties and of fraternal countries is a determinant precondition for actively countering this policy; for fending off attempts at decomposing the unity of fraternal parties and fraternal countries, and at weakening our relations with the Soviet Union; and for preventing China from turning some socialist countries against the others.

The delegations have expressed their fraternal solidarity towards countries in Indo-China, which are subjected to economic, military and political pressure by Beijing. The delegations have stressed their commitment to extend overall support to countries in Indo-China, and to prevent anybody's attempt at isolating them.

3/ In terms of the Chinese question, participants of the meeting discussed the necessity of conducting coordinated activities towards communist and workers' parties in capitalist countries as well as towards revolutionary-democratic parties and movements. It is of great significance for us to expose our evaluation of the Chinese situation, of the domestic and foreign policies of the PRC to communists and revolutionary democrats, and to underline that the principled position of Marxism-Leninism and socialist internationalism is not abandoned by fraternal parties while they are taking steps to involve the PRC in our common struggle against imperialism.

4/ With respect to China's current domestic situation, it has been emphasized that the on-going changes taking place in the PRC are complex, contradictory, and incomplete processes. A proof of this was provided by the 2nd plenary session of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party held in October 1983. The delegations have pointed out that it is necessary to study in-depth the ongoing processes and political power relations in China, and to conduct regular exchange of information on these issues.

5/ The delegations have exchanged views on the further coordination of political, propaganda, scientific, and research activities related to China.

It has been confirmed by the meeting that the coordinated opinion fraternal parties formulated earlier is still valid, according to which current conditions are not mature enough to take up party and military contacts with China.

Participants of the meeting have highlighted the usefulness of holding consultations for representatives of foreign ministries, high authorities responsible for trade, economic, scientific and technical relations, and academies of sciences on issues relevant to relations fraternal countries maintain with China.

x    x    x

The results of the meeting have been recorded in the Protocol Note.

The delegations have agreed to submit this Protocol Note to the central committees of their parties, to prepare a report on the outcome of the consultation, and to provide feedback to one another on the decisions made.

The participants of the meeting expressed their gratitude to the CzCP CC and its International Department for their hospitality, for the good preparation and organization of the meeting, and for the favorable work conditions.

As mandated by and on behalf of the central committee, the delegation of the HSWP CC has invited the delegations of the central committees of fraternal parties to hold their next meeting in Budapest in 1984.

7 December 1983