CHINESE DELEGATION VISIT TO SURINAME: JUST REGULAR

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000545

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SOCI CH NS CHINA
SUBJECT: CHINESE DELEGATION VISIT TO SURINAME: JUST REGULAR
BUSINESS?

REFS: (A) PARAMARIBO 307, (B) 03 PARAMARIBO 421, (C)
PARAMARIBO 270


1. In a July 22 conversation with the Embassy, Political
Officer Yumin Zhao of the Chinese Embassy downplayed a
recent visit by a delegation from the Peoples National
Congress to Suriname. Zhao stressed that the July 6-9
visit was part of a regular orientation of Chinese
government officials to the region -Q Suriname was the
delegations' first stop on an introductory tour to seven
countries. He added that the visit did not break new
ground.


2. According to media reports, the delegation discussed
the warm relations enjoyed between Suriname and China with
Ram Sardjoe (Speaker of the National Assembly),Marie
Levens (Foreign Affairs Minister),and Jules Ajodhia (then
Acting President). Issues covered included the
controversial Patamacca palm oil project (See Ref A),a
road paving program, construction of a new Foreign Affairs
building, the immigration and trafficking of Chinese to
Suriname, and a reported $18 million soft loan promised to
President Ronald Venetiaan during his state visit to China
last year. According to Minister of Trade and Industry
Michael Jong Tjien Fa, the loan is earmarked for the
construction of 1,000 houses in districts Wanica
(population about 90,000) and Commewijne (population about
60,000) districts. In addition, Jong Tjien Fa credited the
good relations between Suriname and China to the Chinese
diaspora in Suriname -- Chinese first came to Suriname more
than 150 years ago. For his part, Jiang Zhenghua, the head
of the Chinese delegation, thanked Suriname for its support
of the "one China" policy. (See Refs B and C for further
details about Suriname-China relations.)


3. When asked for his take on the visit, President Ronald
Venetiaan's personal secretary Hesdy Pigot dismissed rumors
that Suriname will permit the immigration of a significant
number of Chinese nationals. He emphasized that only the
Chinese companies in charge of the proposed housing project
will be able to bring in the necessary workers. These
workers will return to China once the project is completed,
he said. (Note: A credible source confided to the Embassy
that, according to National Assembly members working on the
state visit, the delegation explored the possible
immigration of thousands of Chinese to Suriname. Embassy
has been unable to date to confirm whether this in fact
occurred. End Note)

BARNES


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