Chinese hanging scroll with calligraphic poem.

[Beijing:] , September 1986. Conservatism with Chinese characteristics An imposing hanging scroll brushed by General Zhang Aiping, China's Minister of Defence, and presented to Margaret Thatcher during his visit to Downing Street on 22 September 1986. A veteran of the Chinese revolution who worked closely with Mao, Zhang (1910-2003) was appointed to the defence ministry by Deng Xiaoping in November 1982 and oversaw the modernization of the Chinese armed forces. His calligraphy translates one of Thatcher's favourite childhood quatrains: "It's easy to be a starter but you are a sticker too, it's easy enough to begin a job, it's harder to see it through". A short article about Zhang's visit, beneath a photograph of him presenting Thatcher with the scroll, was featured in The Times the following day. Following the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, Zhang's visit was one of a number of official engagements cementing closer ties between the two countries. Premier Zhao Ziyang visited the UK in 1985, while in October 1986 Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to visit China. Several months before the Queen's visit, Thatcher hosted General Secretary Hu Yaobang at Downing Street; in her speech, she celebrated "an exceptional year for Britain and China" and new business, scientific, and educational joint ventures, noting that "after all, red and blue go well together in our national flag, the Union Jack". Original calligraphy on 138 x 68 mm sheet, mounted as 234 x 83 cm hanging scroll with decorative cream paper. Housed in original card storage box. Scroll in fine condition, box worn with end faces of tray and lid all no longer present.