NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE BAHAMAS CALLS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000166 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2015 TAGS: PREF PREL PINR CH BF SUBJECT: NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE BAHAMAS CALLS ON AMBASSADOR Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN D. ROOD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Newly-arrived Chinese Ambassador ((Li)) Yuanming paid a courtesy call on Ambassador January 25. Ambassador Li was accompanied by his senior staff members, Li Boheng (DCM); Song Zhenguang (First Secretary); and Chen Dayu (Second Secretary). DCM Robert Witajewski also joined in the meeting. SIPDIS ¶2. (C) Discussing the make-up of the new Administration, Ambassador Li asked what differences might be occasioned by the Secretary Powell's departure. Ambassador responded that he expected that Secretary Powell's replacement by Secretary-designate Rice would mostly result in changes in SIPDIS style, not policy, and that he expected the President in the next four years of his Administration to stress inclusiveness and diplomacy. ¶3. (C) Asked what his goals were as ambassador, Mr. Li responded that he (and his colleagues) in the Caribbean would be focusing on strengthening trade relations between the Caribbean and China. He stressed that given his country's huge population, economic growth and development was the only way for the government to improve Chinese living standards. Ambassador Li's other priorities include moving forward with the construction of a sports stadium that the PRC has donated to the Bahamian government, construction of a new chancery on Eastern Road, and helping take Bahamian business persons to Jamaica for the early-February trade show that will be inaugurated by the Chinese Vice President. Ambassador Li indicated that the first two projects were long-term efforts that might not be completed during his assignment in Nassau. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Li was named to head the PRC mission in Nassau following a stint as Consul General in Vancouver, Canada. Ambassador Li is accompanied by his wife. His son will remain in Canada studying business administration in Vancouver. Surprisingly, despite coming from a tour in Canada, Ambassador Li's English was halting and his staff had to translate several common English phrases into Chinese for him. ROOD