AFM LI HUI PREVIEWS SCO SUMMIT, COMMENTS ON U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 011932

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PINL ASEC CH KG KZ
SUBJECT: AFM LI HUI PREVIEWS SCO SUMMIT, COMMENTS ON U.S.
SECURITY ALERT


BEIJING 00011932 001.2 OF 003


Summary
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1. The Chinese Government is currently investigating
reports received from the U.S. Embassy on increased
risks to U.S. citizens in China and will do its utmost
to safeguard diplomatic personnel and facilities, MFA
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao stated during a special June
12 press briefing on the June 15 Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) Summit. AFM Li emphasized that
remarks made at the Summit by Iranian President
Ahmadinejad should be seen as reflecting Iran's
position and not the position of the SCO. Regarding
the 2005 Astana Declaration's "relevant provisions" on
Coalition Forces stationed in the region, AFM Li
remarked that China respects the relevant countries'
decisions on the issue. Kyrgyzstan will handle
current discussions with Coalition Forces according to
Bishkek's needs, interests, as well as SCO
obligations, AFM Li said. SCO members hope to
regularize joint counterterrorism exercises, which are
crucial for combating the "Three Evil Forces"
(terrorism, separatism and extremism) and maintaining
regional security. The SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group
will focus largely on counter-narcotics cooperation.
End Summary.


2. Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui previewed the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit to be
held in Shanghai on June 15 at a specially scheduled
June 12 MFA press briefing. He noted that the heads
of state of all SCO members, observers Iran, Mongolia
and Pakistan, as well as Indian Minister for Petroleum
and Natural Gas Deora, Afghan President Karzai, CIS
Executive Committee Chairman Rushaylo and ASEAN Deputy
Secretary General Villacorta will attend the event.

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Heads of state will review the SCO's development,
discuss international and regional issues and sign a
joint declaration, which represents a conclusive
political document of the Summit proceedings. SCO
leaders will also hold bilateral meetings. Officials
from various departments will sign a large number of
agreements in security, economic and education and
other fields. In addition, the Summit will feature
the inauguration of the SCO industrialists' committee
and business forum, AFM Li reported.

Ahmadinejad's Remarks only Represent Iran's Position
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3. Several foreign correspondents asked about Iranian
President Ahmadinejad's participation in the Summit
and particularly whether China fears that the Iran
nuclear issue will overshadow the event. AFM Li
stated that there have been no discussions of the
nuclear issue within the SCO framework. China will
make arrangements for Iran's participation in
accordance with relevant SCO regulations on the role
of observers. AFM Li noted that Iran joined two
previous SCO events in 2005, including the Astana
Summit and Moscow Premiers' Meeting. China welcomes
Iran's participation this year. President Ahmadinejad
will participate in the Summit's major activities and
will deliver remarks, as will the members and other
observers. While it is not certain what he will say,
Ahmadinejad's remarks will only represent Iran's
position, AFM Li affirmed.

Coalition Forces
--------------


4. Asked whether the deployment of U.S. troops in
Central Asia will be discussed during the Summit, AFM
Li maintained that the SCO's core objectives are to
promote economic development and safeguard regional
security. Noting the Astana Declaration's "relevant
provisions" on Coalition forces stationed in the
region, AFM Li observed that some of the conditions
that led to the deployment of Coalition Forces in
relevant countries are in the process of "being
resolved." China respects the relevant countries'
decisions on the issue, he said. The Summit agenda
will mainly focus on summarizing the experiences of
the past five years and charting a course for the
SCO's future development.

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5. Questioned by the AP correspondent as to whether
Kyrgyzstan is facing pressure from other SCO members
over allowing Coalition Forces to maintain military
facilities, AFM Li stated that Coalition Forces and
certain host countries are now discussing the
Coalition's military presence. Kyrgyzstan will handle
such issues according to Bishkek's needs, interests,
as well as SCO obligations, AFM Li asserted.

Chinese Investigating U.S. Embassy Security Concerns
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6. Citing the June 9 U.S. Embassy Warden Message
warning of an increased risk to American interests in
China, one foreign correspondent asked if China or any
other SCO members had recently experienced a
heightened terrorist threat. AFM Li asserted that all
SCO members have suffered from terrorist attacks and
are confronted by the "Three Evil Forces" (terrorism,
separatism and extremism). All members are resolved
to jointly cobating terrorism. MFA Spokesperson Liu
Jianchao, also present at the press conference, added
that U.S. Embassy officials have briefed the Chinese
Government regarding these concerns. Chinese
authorities are currently investigating these reports
and will do their utmost to safeguard diplomatic
personnel and facilities, Liu affirmed.

Military Cooperation Aimed at Regional Security
-------------- --


7. Asked about the SCO's vision for future military
cooperation, AFM Li noted that while SCO countries
have held many counterterrorism exercises, the SCO
does not target any third party and is not a military
alliance. The only aim of continued military
cooperation is to safeguard regional peace and
stability and strengthen defense cooperation in
Central Asia, particularly in member countries. AFM
Li explained that security cooperation comprises joint
counterterrorism exercises, the formation of a legal
foundation for security cooperation and the
implementation of security agreements. SCO members
hope to regularize joint counterterrorism exercises,
which are crucial for combating the "Three Evil
Forces" and maintaining regional security. AFM Li
predicted that the SCO will conduct regular joint
exercises, such as the one held in March 2006, in the
future.

SCO-Afghan Contact Group to Focus on Counter-Narcotics
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8. Questioned by the Reuters correspondent on why the
SCO has seemingly not achieved greater progress in
counter-narcotics, AFM Li noted that the 2004 Tashkent
Summit featured the signing of an anti-narcotics
cooperation agreement. SCO members are all victims of
drug-related crimes and all place tremendous
importance on counter-narcotics cooperation.
Afghanistan is the main source of illicit drugs in the
region, AFM Li asserted. The SCO is ready to help
establish a counter-narcotics "belt" around
Afghanistan and work with the international community
to fight drug trafficking in Afghanistan, he stated.
AFM Li stated that the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group
will focus largely on counter-narcotics coordination.

Entrepreneurs to Hold Energy Discussions
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9. Asked if Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural
Gas Deora's attendance signals that energy will be a
major topic at the Summit, AFM Li noted that during
the Summit entrepreneurs will hold a business forum to
discuss economic and energy cooperation issues.

Great Interest in SCO Membership and Observer Status
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10. Many correspondents inquired about SCO plans for
admitting new members and observers, with one reporter
asking if the United States has applied for observer
status. AFM Li stated that many countries, including

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some in Asia and other continents, have applied for
membership or observer status. Growing interest in
the SCO demonstrates that the SCO is expanding its
influence and strengthening its role. Asked by the
UPI correspondent how the SCO can claim to be a
transparent organization while declining to disclose
information on its applicants, AFM Li argued that
while the SCO remains transparent, it cannot violate
its own procedures by releasing the names of
applicants who have asked not be publicly identified.
The SCO is now examining applications for observer
status. While there is also interest in new
membership, the SCO has not yet formulated a legal
document that outlines the qualifications for
additional members. This work ought to be completed
as soon as possible, he remarked. AFM Li also noted
that the SCO has signed MOUs with CIS, ASEAN and the
EEC and will continue to explore ways to strengthen
cooperation with these international organizations.


11. Stressing that the SCO is a transparent
organization, AFM Li stated that the SCO has briefed
affiliated international organizations on its actions
and plans. Liu Jianchao indicated that journalists
will be permitted to attend a number of Summit
activities. AFM Li noted that according to the
Russian alphabet, Kazakhstan is next on the rotation
to hold the SCO Secretary General position. The
Secretary General's term is three years.

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