PREVIEW / SINO-SOVIET SUMMIT : Beijing Stifles Its Misgivings, Focuses on Troop Cuts, Trade

When Premier Li Peng arrives in Moscow next week, he will represent a government that in its internal documents is scathingly critical of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev for backsliding from the Communist faith.

But Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Li Jinhua was all sweetness Thursday when asked whether Gorbachev’s reforms are undermining socialism--and whether Li would discuss this with him.

“We hope the Soviet Union’s reforms will be successful,” the spokeswoman purred, adding that every country must choose its own path.

The message was clear: China’s hard-line leaders do not intend to let their anger and worry about Gorbachev’s politics block a vital rapprochement with their northern neighbor.

Li’s four-day visit, which begins Monday, clearly has deep significance for the two sides, and not solely because it will be the first by a Chinese premier to Moscow since Chou En-lai’s in 1964.

Political Turmoil

Since Gorbachev’s historic visit to Beijing last May ended 30 years of Sino-Soviet estrangement, Beijing has suppressed a pro-democracy movement, and Moscow has given up domination of Eastern Europe. But despite political turmoil on both sides, their ties have expanded, and the summit is expected to promote troop cuts along the Sino-Soviet border and boost economic ties.

“It’s very important for both of them to show that, notwithstanding the major changes in both countries, what was achieved last May is still continuing,” a Western diplomat in Beijing said. “That’s the major point of the visit.”

Li, who as a youngster was informally adopted by the late Premier Chou and his wife, studied engineering at the Moscow Power Industry Institute from 1948 to 1954. In 1985, in an effort to improve Sino-Soviet ties, Li, then vice premier, met Gorbachev in Moscow on the way home from an East European tour.

Beijing expects Li’s trip to produce agreements on “matters concerning economic relations, reduction of the bilateral military presence along the border, and other cooperation projects,” Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said.

There were about 500,000 Soviet troops along the border last year, Western analysts estimate. China is believed to have more on its side. Qian said the forces will be reduced to those appropriate for normal relations.

Li, asked recently about the Moscow summit, said China wants to develop political, economic, cultural, scientific and educational ties, and that friendly relations “will contribute to peace in Asia and throughout the world.”

U.S. Takes Calm View

The United States seems to share that view. Washington reacted calmly to last year’s Beijing summit, noting that better Sino-Soviet ties could reduce tension in Asia. Events since then have reduced the perceived Soviet threat and China’s role as a heavyweight in world affairs.

Trade and transportation between the two nations have varied with the ideological winds. Trade now is growing rapidly as ties warm, up from about $3.3 billion in 1988 to more than $4 billion last year, by Chinese statistics. A March accord calls for more growth this year.

A new rail line is being completed through the Xinjiang region in far northwestern China. It should stimulate Sino-Soviet trade. More Chinese laborers in Siberia and Soviet help in building Chinese nuclear power plants are other economic issues for the Moscow talks.

Sticky regional problems may be easing slightly. Cambodia, where Moscow and Beijing have backed opposing sides in the long war, used to be a major obstacle in Sino-Soviet relations but now is increasingly seen as a localized issue.

And while China has looked aghast at Gorbachev’s policies in Eastern Europe, the Soviet leader inspires respect from Beijing for his tough handling of at least one domestic issue.

“On Lithuania,” a Western diplomat noted, “the Chinese position is very supportive to Gorbachev.”

WHAT THEY WANT Beijing’s Goals Reaffirmation of normalized ties with Moscow. Troop reductions along the Sino-Soviet border. New impetus for trade and economic links. Moscow’s Goals More economic cooperation and trade. An end to military ‘confrontation,’ allowing further border demilitarization. Chinese support for policies on a unified Germany and a diplomatic mechanism to foster Asian trust and security.