Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING16399
2006-08-10 02:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SPECIAL OLYMPICS, SHANGHAI

Tags:  PHUM KIRF KOLY CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #6399 2220252
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 100252Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016399 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PHUM KIRF KOLY CH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SPECIAL OLYMPICS, SHANGHAI


SYNAGOGUES WITH SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR

REF: SHANGHAI 5263

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR CLARK T. RANDT, JR. REASONS
1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 016399

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PHUM KIRF KOLY CH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SPECIAL OLYMPICS, SHANGHAI


SYNAGOGUES WITH SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR

REF: SHANGHAI 5263

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR CLARK T. RANDT, JR. REASONS
1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: DURING A JULY 28 LUNCH FOR VISITING
SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL CHAIR TIMOTHY SHRIVER,
THE AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED WITH SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR ZHOU
TAITONG CHINA'S PREPARATIONS FOR HOSTING THE 2007
SPECIAL OLYMPICS. ZHOU, WHO IS EXECUTIVE VICE
CHAIRMAN FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND RESPONSIBLE FOR
HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION, RESPONDED
FAVORABLY TO THE AMBASSADOR'S REQUEST THAT SHANGHAI
PRESERVE ITS HISTORIC SYNAGOGUES FOR USE BY THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) AT A JULY 28 LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE AMBASSADOR
AT HIS RESIDENCE, U.S.-BASED SPECIAL OLYMPICS
INTERNATIONAL CHAIR TIMOTHY SHRIVER INTRODUCED THE
SPECIAL OLYMPICS MOVEMENT TO CHINESE OFFICIALS AND
BEIJING-BASED AMBASSADORS FROM THE THIRTEEN NATIONS
THAT CONTRIBUTE THE MOST ATHLETES TO THE SPECIAL
OLYMPICS. SHANGHAI VICE MAYOR ZHOU, IN BEIJING TO
ATTEND THE LUNCH, OUTLINED STEPS SHANGHAI IS TAKING TO
WELCOME THE GAMES AND SHOWED AN EMOTIONAL VIDEO
HIGHLIGHTING THE EFFORTS OF THREE CHINESE SPECIAL
OLYMPIANS. ON BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT,
ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER CUI TIANKAI SIMILARLY
EXPRESSED CHINA'S DETERMINATION TO HOST A SUCCESSFUL
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND THANKED THOSE INVOLVED IN
PREPARATION TO DATE FOR THE OCTOBER 2007 GAMES.

SHANGHAI SYNAGOGUES MAY BE PRESERVED
--------------


3. (C) THE AMBASSADOR TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO URGE
VICE MAYOR ZHOU TO PRESERVE SHANGHAIS HISTORIC
SYNAGOGUES, IN PARTICULAR, THE OHEL RACHEL AND THE
OHEL MOSHE. VICE MAYOR ZHOU RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO
THE SUGGESTION, NOTING THERE IS SIGNIFICANT INTEREST
IN RESTORING JEWISH PORTIONS OF SHANGHAI. HE
MENTIONED THAT HE HAD DONE SOME WORK ON PRESERVING
SHANGHAI CHURCHES, WHICH PROVED TO BE GOOD FOR THE
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.


4. (SBU) AS NOTED REFTEL, SHANGHAI'S MAYOR RECENTLY
PROMISED THAT THE OHEL RACHEL SYNAGOGUE WOULD BE
RESTORED IN TIME FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, ALTHOUGH HE
DID NOT COMMIT TO ITS MORE FREQUENT USE BY THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY. SEPARATELY, AN AUGUST 1 SOUTH CHINA
MORNING POST ARTICLE NOTED THAT ISRAELI AND AMERICAN
DEVELOPERS ARRIVED IN SHANGHAI IN LATE JULY WITH PLANS
TO INVEST UP TO US$2 BILLION IN A PROJECT THAT WILL
INCLUDE A PARK, A PROPOSED JEWISH MUSEUM AND RESTORED
HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE AREA AROUND THE OHEL MOSHE
SYNAGOGUE. THE PROJECT IS SLATED TO OPEN IN TIME FOR
SHANGHAIS HOSTING OF THE WORLD EXPO IN 2010.


5. (U) THIS MESSAGE WAS COORDINATED WITH CONSULATE
GENERAL SHANGHAI.

RANDT