PRC/AFRICA: WEN JIABAO HIGHLIGHTS PRC INTEREST IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 014617 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AF A/S FRAZER, OGAC - KOLKAR, SAEGER BANGKOK FOR USAID AND CDC GAP HHS FOR OGHA - STEIGER, BHAT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016 TAGS: PREL TBIO AGOA ECON EAID TW CH SUBJECT: PRC/AFRICA: WEN JIABAO HIGHLIGHTS PRC INTEREST IN HEALTH, REJECTS NEO-COLONIALISM REF: A. BEIJING 7835 ¶B. KAMPALA 1253 ¶C. DAR ES SALAAM 1065 ¶D. LUANDA 661 ¶E. KINSHASA 993 Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Robert Griffiths. R easons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Premier Wen Jiabao's June 17-24 tour of seven African nations provided an opportunity for China to highlight the humanitarian aspects of its engagement in Africa, according to MFA Africa Department Officer Zhang Dianbin. Wen refuted criticism that China engages in neo-colonialism in Africa. China is interested in discussing health cooperation, including HIV/AIDS and malaria, in the next U.S.-PRC Africa regional sub-dialogue and may seek to include its PRC Health Ministry officials. With regard to the timing of the next U.S.-China Africa sub-dialogue, the MFA Africa Department notes that its attention is focused on the intensifying preparations for November's mammoth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Poloff discussed Premier Wen's Africa trip with MFA Africa Department Officer Zhang Dianbin and, separately, Dr. He Wenping, an Africa expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS),a Beijing-based think tank affiliated with the State Council. Evolving Aid? -------------- ¶3. (C) Premier Wen's trip was designed primarily to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of PRC-Africa ties and to deepen Sino-African friendship, according to Zhang. Wen participated in 80 activities and signed 71 agreements during his eight-day Africa trip last month, which avoided contentious issues by design. Wen addressed bilateral cooperation, particularly agriculture and infrastructure, as well as highlighted the PRC's new emphasis on people-to-people support. China wants to maintain good relations with African people in addition to their governments. The PRC recognizes that local people need assistance in addition to government-to-government agreements. For example, Wen presented financial assistance and computers to a Ugandan HIV/AIDS clinic. China pledged to send 10-person medical teams to Angola and Ghana and offered to send teachers to establish Chinese-language schools throughout Africa. The China Youth League has already sent a small number of volunteers to work in education and agriculture and China foresees an increasing volunteer presence in Africa, Zhang said. Dr. He added that this is Wen's second trip to Africa and served to help build personal relationships between the Premier and his counterparts. Two Strategic Partnerships -------------- ¶4. (C) Zhang stated that China signed "strategic partnership" agreements with Egypt and South Africa and similar, but not as significant, memoranda of understanding with Ghana, Congo (Brazzaville),Tanzania, Angola and Uganda. A strategic partnership agreement acknowledges that the PRC places heightened significance on bilateral political relations with a given country, provides a framework for frequent senior-level exchanges and supports broad economic cooperation. In Egypt, Wen discussed Iran, Iraq, the overall Middle East situation and UN reform. In South Africa, President Mbeki acknowledged the importance of cooperating economically with China but said that some Chinese exports to South Africa adversely affect local markets. Wen pledged that China will voluntarily limit textile exports to protect South Africa's textile sector. There was no formal agreement, however, according to Zhang. (Note: Media reports said an agreement was "initialed" but not finalized. End Note). Dr. He said China's Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) would enforce the self-imposed limits for major commodities, but small enterprises generally are not closely regulated by MOFCOM. Dr. He also said that Wen witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on judicial anti-corruption cooperation in Angola, Congo and South Africa. Dr. He understands that BEIJING 00014617 002 OF 002 these agreements are designed to share information on criminals and assist the PRC in tracking and bringing to justice Chinese criminals. China: Neocolonialism Hat Doesn't Fit -------------- ¶5. (C) Zhang said that Wen publicly addressed "neo-colonialism" during his trip in response to elements in the Western media, which have over the past year labeled China "neo-colonialist." China is puzzled by and strongly opposes these allegations, which can adversely impact China's international image. Wen spoke out because China cannot stay silent or it will be viewed as implicitly agreeing with the allegations, according to Zhang, who argued that Sino-African cooperation has a long history and that China stood by Africa during Africa's struggle against colonialism. Sino-Africa cooperation produces mutual benefits and is based on mutual trust, he stated, asserting that it is not targeted at nor designed to harm the interests of third countries. China is focused on "globalism," not "neo-colonialism," Zhang said. Dr. He added that China is very concerned about the neo-colonialist label, but is confident that its behavior does not fit the description. Unlike colonal regimes, China does not control any African territory, respects African sovereignty and adheres to international rules of free trade. Western criticism reflects Cold War psychology, but China welcomed AF A/S Frazer's overtures to explore areas for cooperation during the November 2005 sub-dialogue, Dr. He said. China-Africa Forum Update -------------- ¶6. (C) At each stop, Wen discussed preparations for November's Forum for China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing (Ref A). China has received a very good response to its invitations to heads of state. China will invite the six countries with "so-called" diplomatic relations with Taiwan to participate at a lower level as observers, consistent with past practices. UNSYG Annan may attend, schedule permitting, and UN agencies may play some role in the summit. No other non-African regional or international organizations, such as the European Union, have been invited at this time, Zhang said. Dr. He speculated the top themes of November Forum will include investment, assistance and increasing training/human resources in Africa. Separately, a South Korean (ROK) Embassy contact told us that at least 30 African heads of state have accepted invitations to the forum. As each African leader expects state visit protocol, including individual time with President Hu, Chinese authorities are dealing with an unanticipated logistical challenge as they attempt to manage African expectations and pride and President Hu's time. African leaders are sensitive to being lumped together, but President Hu cannot feasibly find time during the summit for thirty or more bilaterals. Some African countries have expressed dissatisfaction with current protocol arrangements, our ROK contact said. French Embassy Political Counselor Fabrice Mauries told us that Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Angola are all conditioning head of state participation on PRC agreement to bilateral state visits either immediately before or after the Forum. Subdialogue: China Interested In Health Cooperation -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Zhang said China is interested in discussing health cooperation in the next Africa regional sub-dialogue with the United States and may seek to include Health Ministry officials. Potential areas for cooperation include HIV/AIDS and malaria. However, Dr. He noted that China is concerned that if it joins traditional donor coordination mechanisms in Africa, it will be seen as attaching strings to its aid. China must fully understand how it will benefit from participating in donor coordination before it proceeds further. ¶8. (C) When asked, Zhang said China had no official position on the timing of the next U.S.-PRC Africa regional sub-dialogue. Preparations for November's Forum on China-Africa Cooperation are intensifying, requiring a great deal of the MFA's Africa Department attention, Zhang noted. RANDT