PRC PREMIER TO VISIT 7 AFRICAN NATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 011755

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV AGOA ECON EAID CH
SUBJECT: PRC PREMIER TO VISIT 7 AFRICAN NATIONS


Summary
--------------


1. MFA Assistant Minister He Yafei previewed Premier Wen
Jiabao's June 17-24 tour of Egypt, Ghana, the Republic of the
Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda to
reporters. Besides meeting the leaders of each nation,
Premier Wen will meet Chinese medical workers, tour an
HIV/AIDS prevention center that China will support, pay
tribute to Chinese workers killed during the construction of
the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and attend events in
commemoration of 50 years of China-Egypt relations. China
will sign agreements covering political, economic,
educational, health and technological issues with each
country that Premier Wen will visit. AFM He declined to
provide details of the agreements and ducked repeated
questions about possible energy deals. Dismissing the notion
that China is only after oil and ignores human rights abuses
in Africa, AFM He said China is due partial credit for the
reconciliation between groups in northern and southern Sudan.
End Summary.

Overall Sino-Africa Relations
--------------


2. On June 9 MFA Assistant Minister He Yafei briefed the
press on Premier Wen Jiabao's June 17-24 seven nation African
tour to Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, the Congo, Angola, Tanzania,
and South Africa. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and senior
officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of
Commerce and National Development and Reform Commission will
accompany the PRC Premier.


3. AFM He broadly described China-Africa relations, pointing
to the long shared history from Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng
He's landings on the Africa's eastern coast to the Egypt's
1956 recognition of the PRC. The African continent is
increasingly unified, working to resolve regional conflicts
and making progress in political stability. Since 2000, the
China-Africa Cooperation Forum has been an important
mechanism for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Beijing appreciates the continually strong support the
African nations have shown China in the international
community. "This is Africa's year," AFM He said, noting
China's Africa Policy Report, President Hu Jintao's April
2006 visit to the three African nations and Premier Wen's
upcoming seven nation tour.


4. AFM He said Sino-Africa economic ties have progressed
steadily, with two-way trade growing from USD 12 million in
1956 to USD 37.9 billion in 2005. Total direct Chinese
investment in Africa reached USD 1.18 billion in 2005 and 800
companies have a presence on the African continent. China
has engaged in more than 900 assistance projects in Africa,
such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. There is robust
cooperation in health, culture and education, with China
already providing over 18,000 scholarships to African
students.

Egypt
--------------


5. Calling Egypt a major developing country, AFM He said
Beijing enjoys "very friendly relations" with Cairo, with
numerous high level visits since the establishment of a
strategic and cooperative relationship in 1999. Premier Wen
will meet with President Hosni Mubarak, Prime Minister Ahmed
Nasiz, People's Assembly Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour and Shura
Council Chairman Safwat Al-Sharif. During the meetings with
his counterparts, Premier Wen will review their bilateral
relationships and discuss ways to strengthen ties. China and
Egypt will sign political, economic, cultural and educational
agreements. Premier Wen will attend a gala at the foot of
the pyramids in commemoration of 50 years of Sino-Egyptian
relations. The Chinese Premier will also meet the media to
discuss China's relations with Egypt, other African nations,
the Middle East and the developing world, according to AFM He.

Ghana
--------------


6. AFM He said Premier Wen will meet President John Agyekum
Kufuor and exchange views on expansion of mutual beneficial
and cooperative ties with the first sub-Saharan African
nation to diplomatically recognize China 46 years ago. The
two sides will sign agreements on trade, public health,
education and human resources. AFM He said Premier Wen will
attend a completion ceremony of a China-funded road
renovation project.

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The Republic of the Congo
--------------


7. AFM He said the PRC and the Congo have enjoyed
"traditional friendly relations" since the establishment of
diplomatic ties in 1964. Premier Wen will meet with
President Denis Sassuo-Nguesso, who also holds the rotating
presidency of the African Union, to discuss the state of
bilateral relations, as well as regional and international
issues of common interests. They will sign agreements to
strengthen economic, trade, agricultural and education ties.
AFM He said Premier Wen will also visit a hospital to meet
Chinese medical workers and a middle school with a large
offering of China-related courses.

Angola
--------------


8. The PRC and Angola established diplomatic relations in
1983 and have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in various fields
since, AFM He reported. Premier Wen will hold talks with
President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos and Prime Minister Fernando
de Piedade Dias Dos Santos. The two sides will sign
agreements covering economics, trade, agriculture, education
and health. AFM He said Angola is an important supplier of
oil, but would not go into further detail. AFM He also would
not confirm the amount of the line of credit China is
providing to Angola.

South Africa
--------------


9. The PRC Government supported the South African people's
fight against apartheid and efforts to develop their nation,
AFM He underscored. China and South Africa have enjoyed
frequent high level bilateral visits and a strategic
partnership based on equality, mutual benefit and trust.
Cooperation in tourism, public health and trade has produced
practical results. Premier Wen will focus on how to deepen
the bilateral relationship during his meetings with President
Thabo Mbeki, Vice President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuku and the
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete. Cooperative
agreements will be signed in the areas of economics, trade,
science and technology, animal and plant quarantine,
education and cultural exchanges. Premier Wen will also meet
with the head of the New Partnership of Africa Development
(NEPAD) secretariat. AFM He said Premier Wen will attend the
China-South Africa Business Forum where he will give an
important speech on China's relationship with Africa.


10. Asked about anti-Chinese riots in South Africa a few
months ago and perceived growing resentment of China's
economic intrusions in Africa, AFM He said China's
cooperation with African nations brings mutual benefit to
both sides. It is normal to have problems from time to time
in bilateral relations, AFM He said. The key is to treat
each other as equals and take dynamic and respectful action
to directly address problems. This is what China is doing,
according to AFM He. As for the South African complaints,
these are due to complex reasons and misunderstandings. For
instance, sometimes the quality of Chinese products does not
meet local standards due to problems associated with
globalization. AFM He said South Africa has raised this in a
somber way with China and the two sides are working on this
and other issues.

Tanzania
--------------


11. The PRC and Tanzania have had a "profound friendship"
over the last 42 years, according to AFM He. Premier Wen
will review these relations during his meetings with
President Jakaya Kikwete and Prime Minister Edward Lowassa.
He will visit a cemetery to pay tribute to the Chinese
experts who died during the building of the PRC-supported
Tanzam Railway. AFM He said Premier Wen will also visit the
construction site of the national stadium that Beijing is
funding.

Uganda
--------------


12. AFM He said there has been a steady development in
relations between the PRC and Uganda since the establishment
of diplomatic relations in 1962. Premier Wen will meet with
President Lt. General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Prime
Minister Apollo Nsibambi to share views on the progress of
bilateral relations and to discuss ways to upgrade the

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political and economic relations. China and Uganda will sign
political economic, trade, public health, educational and
cultural agreements during Premier Wen's visit. AFM He said
the Premier will also visit an HIV/AIDS prevention center
that China will be supporting.

Ducking the Details and Challenging the Media
--------------


13. AFM He declined to provide specifics on the agreements
that will be signed during Premier Wen's visit and deflected
reporters' repeated attempts to get specific information on
which countries would sign energy deals with China. He also
did not provide details about the amount or types of Chinese
aid to Africa, simply saying China is a developing country
that is doing its best to help raise the living standards of
the African people. AFM He urged understanding that China
has a comprehensive relationship with Angola and it is wrong
to believe that China looks to Africa solely as a source of
oil. AFM He called on reporters to go to Africa to see the
actual situation and report their own objective stories,
instead of following the leading stories of one or two large
media organizations.

Sudan
--------------


14. AFM He disagreed with a reporter's suggestion that China
ignores human rights abuses in Sudan because of its thirst
for oil. AFM He averred China and Sudan have a normal,
cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship that
delivers tangible economic benefits to the Sudanese people.
The resulting economic development promotes human rights in
Sudan, claimed AFM He. China has assisted in peacekeeping
operations and supported the international efforts to resolve
the situation in Darfur. The recent reconcilation between
rival groups in northern and souhern Sudan was partially due
to Chinese efforts, according to AFM He.
RANDT