Negotiations between the British government and the Chinese government began in the early 1980s.

 

　　Thatcher visited China four times, the first in 1977 as leader of the opposition.

 

　　During her subsequent visit in 1982, the first to China by a serving British Prime Minister, she met former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.

 

　　The pair discussed the future of Hong Kong.

 

　　During talks, Deng Xiaoping and Thatcher agreed on the "one country, two systems" formula for Hong Kong.

 

　　On December the 19th, 1984, China and Britain signed a Joint Declaration on the future of the territory, which paved the way for Hong Kong's return to China in 1997.

 

　　Experts from both sides agree that the successful handover of Hong Kong laid a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

 

　　Former British foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe served under Thatcher at the time of negotiations on the return of Hong Kong to China in the 80's.

 

　　Howe says the achievement of a stable future for Hong Kong was a success for both the Chinese leadership and for Thatcher.

 

　　Feng Zhongping is an expert on European issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, he says Thatcher was a realist in terms of Sino-British ties.

 

　　He says although Thatcher was always determined to stand up for what she regarded as British national interests, she also understood the importance of pragmatism and good relations with China.

 

　　To date, Sino-UK relations have been on good terms since the 1980s.

 

　　For CRI, I'm Shen Chengcheng.