NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE BAHAMAS CALLS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000166

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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.

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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

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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