Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME3384
2002-07-10 10:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY AND CHINA EXCHANGE VISITS TO PROMOTE

Tags:  PREL ETRD EAID IT CH 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 003384 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2012
TAGS: PREL ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT CH CHPREL CHPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY AND CHINA EXCHANGE VISITS TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC INTERESTS, DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 03384 01 OF 03 101003Z
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POLMINCOUNS GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 003384

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2012
TAGS: PREL ETRD EAID ITALY'>IT ETRD EAID ITALY'>IT ETRD EAID ITALY'>IT CH CHPREL CHPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY AND CHINA EXCHANGE VISITS TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC INTERESTS, DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 03384 01 OF 03 101003Z
CLASSIFIED BY: A/POLMINCOUNS GARY ROBBINS FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: IN MAY 28 AND JULY 5 MEETINGS, THE MFA'S
OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR EAST ASIAN AFFAIRS AND HIS DEPUTY
PROVIDED POLOFF WITH READOUTS ON RECENT VISITS TO ITALY BY
THE PRC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND TO CHINA BY THE GOI
MINISTER OF PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES AND MFA UNDERSECRETARY FOR
ASIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE CHINESE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN CHINA AS WELL AS
OBSERVANCE OF THE "ONE CHINA" POLICY. THEY TOOK SOME HEAT
FROM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FINI ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES,
PARTICULARLY RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. ON HIS TRIP TO CHINA,
THE GOI MINISTER WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LARGE PRIVATE SECTOR
DELEGATION. HIS OBJECTIVES, AND THOSE OF THE UNDERSECRETARY,
WERE TO FIND EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, OBTAIN PR FOR DEVELOPMENT
AID, AND SMOOTH OVER SYMBOLIC ISSUES OF CONTENTION, SUCH AS
CONTACT WITH TAIWANESE OFFICIALS. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
LI LANQING IN ROME: LET'S DEEPEN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL TIES
-------------- --------------


2. (C) ACCORDING TO RENZO MARIO ROSSI, OFFICE DIRECTOR FOR
EAST ASIAN AFFAIRS, AND HIS DEPUTY, PAOLA MUNZI, DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER LI LANQING WAS THE FIRST RANKING CHINESE OFFICIAL TO
VISIT ITALY UNDER THE BERLUSCONI GOVERNMENT. LANQING AND HIS
DELEGATION, WHICH INCLUDED THE MINISTER OF CULTURE, DEPUTY
MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND OTHERS, MET WITH
PRESIDENT CIAMPI, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FINI, THE
INTERNATIONALIZATION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONFINDUSTRIA
EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION, AND THE HEAD OF THE CHAMBER OF
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 03384 01 OF 03 101003Z
DEPUTIES' FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DURING THEIR MAY 21-25
VISIT.



3. (C) FINI THANKED CHINA FOR ITS COOPERATION AGAINST
TERRORISM, ILLEGAL MIGRATION, AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIME.
(NOTE: RECENTLY-RESIGNED INTERIOR MINISTER SCAJOLA HAD
SIGNED A TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AGREEMENT WITH CHINA A FEW
MONTHS BEFORE. END NOTE.) LANQING ASSERTED THAT THE GOI AND
PRC AGREED ON STRATEGIC ISSUES, THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL
INCLUSION/DIVERSITY IN THE WORLD, AND GLOBAL "ECONOMIC
BALANCE" IN A "MULTI-POLAR WORLD." HE INVITED CIAMPI AND
PRIME MINISTER BERLUSCONI TO VISIT CHINA NEXT SPRING AFTER
THE CONCLUSION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY CONGRESS SCHEDULED FOR
OCTOBER. FINI NOTED THAT THE GOI AND PRC SHARED SIMILAR
VIEWS ON THE REFORM OF THE UNSC MEMBERSHIP. (NOTE: ITALY'S
PROPOSAL FOR UNSC REFORM IS TO ADD EIGHT-TEN REGIONAL,
NON-PERMANENT SEATS THAT WOULD BE SHARED BY
COUNTRIES--ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTE THE MOST TO UN
ACTIVITIES--NOT REPRESENTED IN OTHER SLOTS. END NOTE.)


4. (U) LANQING PROPOSED THAT CHINA AND ITALY (1) INTENSIFY
HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENT CONTACTS, (2) BROADEN ECONOMIC TIES,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES),
AND (3) INCREASE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL EXCHANGES. CHINA
IS INTERESTED IN THE ITALIAN SME MODEL AND HOPES THAT TRADE
AND JOINT VENTURES WITH ITALIAN COMPANIES EXPAND.

-------------- --
LANQING: BUT MUST YOU CODDLE ENEMIES OF STATE?
-------------- --

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PAGE 04 ROME 03384 01 OF 03 101003Z

5. (C) SUGGESTING THAT THEY NOT LET POINTS OF DISAGREEMENT
RUIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP, LANQING THANKED THE GOI FOR ITS ONE
CHINA POLICY AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
REUNIFICATION OF CHINA. THE PRC WAS WILLING TO BE MORE
FLEXIBLE TOWARD TAIWAN (WHICH COULD MAINTAIN ITS OWN SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND ARMED FORCES, BE REPRESENTED IN
PARLIAMENT, AND NOT BE GOVERNED BY THE MAINLAND) BUT ONLY IN
A ONE CHINA FRAMEWORK. THE GOI NOTED THAT ITS
PARLIAMENTARIANS WERE INDEPENDENT AND THAT IT WAS LEGALLY
OBLIGATED TO ALLOW TAIWANESE OFFICIALS TO TRANSIT ITALY IN
ORDER TO VISIT THE VATICAN. LANQING DISAGREED WITH THIS
RATIONALE, STATING THAT THE TAIWANESE'S REAL INTENTION IN
OBTAINING TRANSIT VISAS WAS TO INCREASE CONTACT WITH THE GOI.
(ROSSI AND MUNZI EXPLAINED THAT IN A RECENT VISIT OF WHICH
THE PRC HAD COMPLAINED, TAIWANESE OFFICIALS MET IN A PRIVATE
DINNER WITH A PARLIAMENTARY GROUP. SUCH VISITS WERE A
CONTINUAL CONCERN TO THE MFA. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TAIWANESE
PRESIDENT HAD REQUESTED A VISIT IN JUNE, AND THE GOI WAS
UNSURE HOW TO RESPOND. ON THE ONE HAND, TAIWAN'S FRIENDS
LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE PARLIAMENT EXPRESSES INTEREST
IN ALLOWING SUCH VISITS, WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PRC
PRESSES FOR VISA REFUSAL. TAIWAN WAS AN ESPECIALLY HOT ISSUE
FOR THE PRC BECAUSE OF THE MAINLAND'S UPCOMING PARTY
CONGRESS, THE MFA REP SURMISED. THE GOI HAD FEARED THAT
CHINESE DISPLEASURE ON THIS ISSUE COULD HURT ITALIAN EXPORTS,

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTQ8012

PAGE 01 ROME 03384 02 OF 03 101003Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 COME-00 CTME-00
INL-00 C-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00
EB-00 EXIM-01 OIGO-00 E-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00
SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 SA-00 EPAE-00
PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W
-------------- C90210 101004Z /38
R 101011Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4727
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
CIA WASHINGTON DC//CIC/CTC//
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 003384

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2012
TAGS: PREL ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT CH CHPREL CHPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY AND CHINA EXCHANGE VISITS TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC INTERESTS, DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 03384 02 OF 03 101003Z
BUT HAD ALSO NOTICED THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT COUNTRIES THAT
RECEIVED THE DALAI LAMA, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE SO PUNISHED.)


6. (C) ON OTHER TOUCHY ISSUES, LANQING WAS PREDICTABLY
NON-FORTHCOMING. ON TIBET, HE SAID THAT THE PRC WAS PREPARED
TO PROVIDE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS
THAT THE DALAI LAMA WANTED THE INDEPENDENCE OF TIBET AND
TAIWAN. LANQING WENT ON TO CLAIM THAT THE FALUN GONG (FG)
WAS A TERRORIST GROUP THAT PROMOTED SUICIDE. ACCORDING TO
THE MFA, THIS REMARK WAS AN ATTEMPT TO HEAD OFF GOI
CRITICISM, SINCE A NUMBER OF ITALIAN BUSINESSMEN MARRIED TO
CHINESE NATIONALS ARE FG MEMBERS. THE GOI BELIEVES THAT FG
IS PEACEFUL AND NON-SUICIDAL, AND FINI TOLD LANQING THAT IT
WAS NOT THE GOI'S HABIT TO JUDGE THINGS ABOUT WHICH IT HAD NO
EVIDENCE (I.E., FG'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES),BUT THAT RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM MUST BE REAL. FINI ALSO PRESSED FOR A RESOLUTION OF
THE SCHISM BETWEEN THE NATIONALIST AND CLANDESTINE CATHOLIC
CHURCHES. FINALLY, HE NOTED THAT ITALY'S POLICIES ON TAIWAN,
TIBET, AND HUMAN RIGHTS REFLECT AGREED EU POSITIONS.

--------------
ITALY GOES TO CHINA
--------------


7. (SBU) BACK-TO-BACK TRIPS TO CHINA BY SENIOR GOI
OFFICIALS REFLECTED LARGELY THE PRO-BUSINESS BERLUSCONI
GOVERNMENT'S EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING ITALIAN EXPORTS. THE
MISSIONS ALSO STEMMED FROM THE IMPETUS OF THE
INTER-MINISTERIAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR GROUP ON CHINA, WHICH
WAS ESTABLISHED ONE YEAR AGO. (NOTE: ITALIAN EXPORTS TO
CHINA HAVE INCREASED CONSIDERABLY AS OF LATE, BUT THEY ARE
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PAGE 03 ROME 03384 02 OF 03 101003Z
STILL A TINY FRACTION OF ITALY'S TOTAL EXPORTS. THIS GROUP
HAS ASKED THE GOI TO ESTABLISH A FUND FOR COMPANIES THAT WANT
TO INVEST IN CHINA IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE BENEFIT-TO-RISK
RATIO. THE IDEA, CONSIDERED CORPORATE WELFARE BY SOME, IS
CONTROVERSIAL. END NOTE.)


8. (C) ANTONIO MARZANO, MINISTER FOR PRODUCTIVE
ACTIVITIES, WAS ACCOMPANIED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AND OF CONFINDUSTRIA, ITALY'S LARGEST EMPLOYER
ASSOCIATION, ON HIS JUNE 12-13 VISIT. THEIR MAIN GOAL WAS TO
ESTABLISH CONTACTS FOR EXPORTING GOODS TO THE 2008 BEIJING
OLYMPICS, FOR EXAMPLE IN PACKAGING. HOWEVER, MUNZI SAID
MARZANO'S TRIP WAS DISAPPOINTING IN THAT HIS CHINESE
COUNTERPART WAS UNABLE TO MEET WITH HIM, DESPITE HAVING
AGREED TO DO SO.


9. (C) MFA UNDERSECRETARY FOR ASIA AND HUMAN RIGHTS
MARGHERITA BONIVER'S JUNE 24-27 VISIT WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL.
BONIVER MET WITH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TANG JIAXUAN AND
DEPUTY MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EDUCATION, FOREIGN
TRADE, AND FINANCE. BONIVER KEPT THE EMPHASIS ON THE
POSITIVE, HIGHLIGHTING POINTS OF AGREEMENT AND THE
"EXCELLENT" STATE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS OVERALL. DURING HER
VISIT, SHE SIGNED A COOPERATION AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDED 48M
EURO IN HEALTH AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE. (NOTE: MUNZI SAID
THAT THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT NEW, BUT THE TRIP PROVIDED A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR A SIGNING CEREMONY. END NOTE.) THIS
INCLUDED THE SECOND TRANCHE OF A CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT TO AID
A HOSPITAL IN LHASA, TIBET. SINCE TIBETANS COULD NOT AFFORD
THE HOSPITAL, AID MEANT TO HELP THEM WAS BENEFITING CHINESE
HAN SETTLERS INSTEAD. ASKED WHY THE MFA DID NOT REALLOCATE
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PAGE 04 ROME 03384 02 OF 03 101003Z
THE MONEY, MUNZI REPLIED THAT THE GOI FELT CONSTRAINED TO
DONATE AID ACCORDING TO PRC REQUESTS.

-------------- --------------
CONVERGENCE ON NORTH KOREA, INDIA/PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN
-------------- --------------


10. (C) BONIVER AND JIAXUAN FOUND COMMON GROUND ON REGIONAL
ISSUES. ON NORTH KOREA, BONIVER NOTED THE PRC'S ABILITY TO
INFLUENCE PYONGYANG TO LIBERALIZE. JIAXUAN PRAISED THE
ITALIAN/EU APPROACH TO THE ISSUE, STATING THAT WHEN THE GOI
BECAME THE FIRST GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE DPRK, IT
ENCOURAGED NORTH KOREA TO OPEN TO THE WORLD. (NOTE: THE GOI
RECOGNIZED THE DPRK IN 2000 UNDER A PREVIOUS CENTER-LEFT
GOVERNMENT. END NOTE.) MUNZI INFORMED POLOFF THAT THE EU
WORKING GROUP FOR ASIA'S MONTHLY MEETING IN BRUSSELS WAS
CONSIDERING HOW TO ACHIEVE LONG-TERM GOALS IN NORTH KOREA.
THE GOI HAD BEGUN A SMALL-SCALE AID PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED
SCHOLARSHIPS, TRAINING, AND VISITS TO EUROPE AND WAS
"BEGINNING TO PRODUCE SOME RESULTS." A PROJECT IN THE OFFING
WAS A DATABASE TO COMPILE DATA ON THE ENERGY AVAILABLE TO
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA. THE MFA UNDERSTOOD THAT THE KEDO
AGREEMENT, EVEN IF WASHINGTON WERE WILLING TO SIGN IT AT THIS
POINT, WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE DPRK'S ENERGY NEEDS.
THE SECTOR NEEDED EXTENSIVE REVAMPING.

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL PTO6795

PAGE 01 ROME 03384 03 OF 03 101004Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 COME-00 CTME-00
INL-00 C-00 USNW-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EAP-00 EB-00 EXIM-01 E-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 FRB-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00
AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01
OPIC-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00
SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 SA-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /013W
-------------- C90222 101004Z /38
R 101011Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4728
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL NAPLES
CIA WASHINGTON DC//CIC/CTC//
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 003384

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2012
TAGS: PREL ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT ETRD EAID IT CH CHPREL CHPREL
SUBJECT: ITALY AND CHINA EXCHANGE VISITS TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC INTERESTS, DISCUSS REGIONAL PROBLEMS

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 ROME 03384 03 OF 03 101004Z


11. (C) ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN, BOTH ITALY AND CHINA AGREED
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDED TO KEEP PRESSURE ON
VAJPAYEE AND MUSHARRAF TO PREVENT CONFLICT. ON AFGHANISTAN,
JIAXUAN STATED HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE GOI'S CONTRIBUTION TO
REBUILDING THE COUNTRY. BOTH SIDES WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
WEAKNESS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT AND AGREED THAT AN
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE, INCLUDING MILITARY, WAS NECESSARY TO
STABILIZE THE SITUATION.

-------------- --------------
SHANGHAI: REPRESSION COULD BE WORSE; PICK US FOR TRADE FAIR
-------------- --------------


12. (C) BONIVER MET WITH SHANGHAI'S MAYOR AND FEDERATION OF
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS. INFORMING BONIVER OF SHANGHAI'S $125M
PROGRAM OF MODERNIZATION OF THE TRANSPORT, ENERGY, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORS, BOTH REQUESTED SUPPORT FOR SHANGHAI'S
CANDIDACY FOR THE UNIVERSAL TRADE EXPOSITION OF 2010. (NOTE:
THE GOI REMAINS UNDECIDED. END NOTE.)


13. (C) FINALLY, BONIVER MET WITH INTELLECTUALS, WHO,
ACCORDING TO MUNZI, PLAYED DOWN THE GRAVITY OF THE PRC'S
REPRESSION. THOUGH THEY SEEMED FREER TO SPEAK THAN IN THE
PAST, THEY WOULD ONLY CHARACTERIZE THE STATE'S ACTIONS
AGAINST ITS SUPPOSED ENEMIES AS "EXAGGERATED." MUNZI
INTERPRETED THE SUBTLETY OF THIS CRITICISM AS MEANING THAT
THE INTELLECTUALS WANTED TO COOL DOWN THE SITUATION IN THE
RUN-UP TO THE PARTY CONGRESS.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 ROME 03384 03 OF 03 101004Z

CONFIDENTIAL

>
2002ROME03384 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL