Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING17768
2006-08-24 13:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

CHINESE LEADERSHIP HOLDS CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Tags:  PREL PGOV CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJA #7768 2361319
ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZUI RUEWMCF1844 2361313
O 241319Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 017768 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2031
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE LEADERSHIP HOLDS CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS
WORK CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 21-23

REF: A. FBIS FEA20060824026698

B. FBIS CPP20060824054020

C. FBIS CPP20060823057001

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL INTERNAL UNIT CHIEF SUSAN THORNTON.
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 017768

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2031
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE LEADERSHIP HOLDS CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS
WORK CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 21-23

REF: A. FBIS FEA20060824026698

B. FBIS CPP20060824054020

C. FBIS CPP20060823057001

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL INTERNAL UNIT CHIEF SUSAN THORNTON.
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) HU JINTAO AND THE REST OF CHINA'S TOP LEADERSHIP HELD
A "CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK CONFERENCE" IN BEIJING ON
AUGUST 21-23, WHICH LOCAL CONTACTS DEEMED UNUSUAL AND HIGHLY
SIGNIFICANT. THE MEETING REPORTEDLY EMPHASIZED THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO CHINA'S DOMESTIC
DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZATION, AS WELL AS CHINA'S COMMITMENT
TO "PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT" AND CREATION OF A "HARMONIOUS
WORLD." ONE CHINESE SCHOLAR SAID THAT THE MEETING IS HU'S
ATTEMPT TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY IN THE
RUN UP TO THE SEVENTEENTH PARTY CONGRESS NEXT YEAR. THE
MEETING SIGNALED THAT ECONOMIC OPENING AND REFORM WILL
CONTINUE, BUT THAT FOREIGN ENTITIES' ACTIVITIES IN CHINA MAY
FACE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR IMPACT
ON REGIME STABILITY. ANOTHER CHINESE SCHOLAR POINTED TO THE
MEETING'S DISCUSSION OF STRENGTHENED PARTY CONTROL OF FOREIGN
POLICY AND PROGRAMS. JAPANESE EMBASSY COUNTERPARTS SAY THEY
ARE HEARING THAT, DURING THE MEETING, HU JINTAO DISCUSSED
CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES. JAPANESE WERE SURPRISED
BY THE SUPPOSED IMPORTANCE HU JINTAO GAVE TO RELATIONS WITH
AFRICA. END SUMMARY.

CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK CONFERENCE, AUGUST 21-23
-------------- --------------


2. (C) HU JINTAO AND THE REST OF CHINA'S TOP LEADERSHIP HELD
A "CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK CONFERENCE" IN BEIJING ON
AUGUST 21-23, ACCORDING TO PROMINENT CHINESE MEDIA COVERAGE
AFTER THE EVENT. NEWS OF THE CONFERENCE DOMINATED THE FRONT
PAGE OF THE AUGUST 24 PEOPLE'S DAILY AND WAS THE LEAD STORY
ON THE AUGUST 23 EVENING CCTV NEWS, RECEIVING NEARLY 10
MINUTES OF AIR TIME. ALL NINE MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO
STANDING COMMITTEE, INCLUDING AILING HUANG JU AS WELL AS MANY
OTHER SENIOR PARTY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WERE IN
ATTENDANCE. HU JINTAO AND WEN JIABAO REPORTEDLY BOTH GAVE
"IMPORTANT SPEECHES."


3. (U) THE MEETING EMPHASIZED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO CHINA'S DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZATION, AS

WELL AS CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREATION OF A "HARMONIOUS WORLD," ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL
CHINESE MEDIA COVERAGE. THE CONFERENCE OUTLINED FIVE
SPECIFIC TASKS CHINA'S LEADERSHIP HOPES TO ACHIEVE: 1)
MANAGING THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SITUATIONS AS A WHOLE; 2)
ADHERING TO THE ROAD OF PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT; 3) ADHERING TO
A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL, WIN-WIN OPENING STRATEGY; 4)
PERSEVERING IN BUILDING A HARMONIOUS WORLD; AND 5) ADHERING
TO PEOPLE-CENTERED THINKING.


4. (SBU) THE CONFERENCE ALSO ADDRESSED CHINESE PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY, ECONOMIC AND TRADE ISSUES, AND THE KEY ROLE OF THE
PARTY IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS. FOR EXAMPLE, ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY,
CHINESE MEDIA STRESSED THAT CHINA MUST PURSUE CULTURAL
EXCHANGES, ENGAGE IN "FOREIGN PROPAGANDA," AND "INTRODUCE
CHINA'S OUTSTANDING CULTURE TO THE WORLD," ALL TO MAKE THE
WORLD BETTER UNDERSTAND CHINA. ON TRADE AND THE ECONOMY, THE
MEETING CONCLUDED THAT CHINA MUST CONTINUE OPENING AND
REFORM, PROTECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, ACCELERATE THE
CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE ZONES, AND PROMOTE THE
"BALANCED DEVELOPMENT" OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. CHINESE MEDIA
ALSO STRESSED THE CENTRAL ROLE OF THE PARTY, REPORTING THE
MEETINGS CONCLUSION THAT THE PARTY MUST STRENGTHEN ITS
LEADERSHIP OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK SO AS TO PROTECT NATIONAL
SOVEREIGNTY, SECURITY, AND DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS.

LOCAL REACTION
--------------


5. (C) EMBASSY CONTACTS ON AUGUST 24 STRESSED THAT THE
MEETING WAS BOTH UNUSUAL AND IMPORTANT. LONG-TIME EMBASSY
CONTACT DONG LISHENG (PROTECT),DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN
STUDIES INSTITUTE AT THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
(CASS),STATED THIS RARE MEETING IS LIKELY AN ATTEMPT BY HU
JINTAO TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY IN THE RUN
UP TO THE SEVENTEENTH PARTY CONGRESS NEXT YEAR. DONG ALSO
SPECULATED THAT THE MEETING MAY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO SIGNAL
THAT ECONOMIC OPENING AND REFORM WILL CONTINUE, BUT THE
ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN ENTITIES WILL FACE FURTHER
RESTRICTIONS, GIVEN CHINESE LEADERS' FEARS THAT FOREIGN
INFLUENCE MAY LEAD TO REGIME INSTABILITY AS IN THE CASES OF
THE "COLOR REVOLUTIONS" IN SEVERAL FORMER SOVIET STATES.
DONG SAID THAT THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP WAS DISCUSSING THE
POTENTIAL FOR "COLOR REVOLUTION"-LIKE INSTABILITY IN CHINA IN
INTERNAL MEETINGS AS RECENTLY AS ONE MONTH AGO. THE
LEADERSHIP WAS CERTAIN TO HAVE DISCUSSED OTHER KEY FOREIGN
POLICY ISSUES AT THE MEETING, DONG COMMENTED, BUT THOSE
DISCUSSIONS WILL LIKELY NOT BE MADE PUBLIC.


6. (C) LIU DEXI (PROTECT),A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL
PARTY SCHOOL'S INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES,
SAID THE PARTY SCHOOL HELD MEETINGS ALL DAY ON AUGUST 24 TO
DISCUSS THE CENTRAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK CONFERENCE. LIU
DESCRIBED THE MEETING AS UNUSUAL AND IMPORTANT, CLAIMING THAT
IT CONTRIBUTED "MUCH NEW CONTENT" TO CHINAS FOREIGN AFFAIRS
WORK. ASKED ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CONTENT, LIU SAID THE MEETING
FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT CHINA'S INTEGRATION AND ACTIVITIES
WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD HAVE BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY IN THE
RECENT PERIOD, CREATING SOME NEW "PROBLEMS" AND CARRYING THE
POTENTIAL TO AFFECT CHINA'S INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT. MEETING
DISCUSSIONS WERE NOT FOCUSED ON PROBLEMS OR RELATIONS WITH
SPECIFIC COUNTRIES, HE ASSERTED, BUT DISCUSSED THE NEED TO
STRENGTHEN MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK.


7. (C) AS TO THE MEANING OF "STRENGTHENED MANAGEMENT," LIU
SAID IT INCLUDED BOTH PROMOTION OF CONTINUED REFORM AND
OPENING ON THE ECONOMIC SIDE AND IMPROVED OVERSIGHT AND
STEPPED UP PROMOTION OF EXCHANGES AND PROGRAMS. THERE HAS
BEEN INCREASED SCRUTINY RECENTLY OF CONFERENCES AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES INVOLVING FOREIGNERS AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS, HE
CONCEDED, REFLECTING THE NEW EMPHASIS ON PARTY AND GOVERNMENT
OVERSIGHT OF EVENTS INVOLVING FOREIGNERS. HE ALSO POINTED
OUT THAT STEPPED UP MANAGEMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORK WOULD
MEAN BIGGER BUDGETS FOR SOME ORGANIZATIONS, BUT HE DID NOT
SPECIFY WHICH ORGANIZATIONS THOSE WERE. ASKED IF THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY COULD BE EXPECTED TO GAIN INFLUENCE FROM THE NEW
CHANGES, LIU SAID, "NOT NECESSARILY."


8. (C) JAPANESE EMBASSY COUNTERPARTS REPORTED THEIR
UNDERSTANDING THAT CHINESE LEADERS DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF
FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES FOLLOWING HU JINTAO'S SPEECH AT THE
CONFERENCE. IN THESE DISCUSSIONS HU REPORTEDLY STRESSED THAT
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO
CHINA'S CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. KOREAN
PENINSULA AND JAPANESE RELATIONS WERE SECOND IN IMPORTANCE,
FOLLOWED BY RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF CHINA'S NEIGHBORS.
JAPANESE COUNTERPARTS NOTED WITH SURPRISE THEIR SOURCES'
CLAIMS THAT AFRICA WAS RATED AS THE FOURTH MOST IMPORTANT
REGION FOR CHINA, AHEAD OF EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.
HU JINTAO REPORTEDLY EMPHASIZED THE UPCOMING CHINA-AFRICA
SUMMIT AND THE NEED FOR CHINA TO ASSIST IN AFRICAS
DEVELOPMENT.


9. (C) FOREIGN MINISTRY COUNTERPARTS TOLD US ON AUGUST 24
THAT THEY DO NOT YET HAVE A READOUT ON THE MEETING, NOTING
THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY WAS REPRESENTED ONLY AT THE VICE
MINISTER LEVEL AND ABOVE. MFA CONTACTS ALSO STRESSED THAT
THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WAS NOT SIMPLY CHINESE DIPLOMACY,
BUT RATHER THE BROADER SUBJECT OF THE ENTIRE RANGE OF
"FOREIGN AFFAIRS" THAT IMPACT CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT.

COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) MEDIA REPORTS OF THE MEETING CONCLUSIONS CONTAIN
LITTLE THAT IS NEW, REHASHING FAMILIAR PHRASES LIKE "PEACEFUL
DEVELOPMENT," CREATING A "HARMONIOUS WORLD" AND PURSUING A
"WIN-WIN OPENING STRATEGY" THAT PROMOTES DOMESTIC DEMAND AND
LOOKS TOWARD ACHIEVEMENT OF A "WELL-OFF SOCIETY." HOLDING
SUCH A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING TO DISCUSS FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
HOWEVER, IS AN UNUSUAL EVENT, OCCURRING PREVIOUSLY ONLY IN
1971 AND 1991, AND IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT MANY OF THE DETAILS OF
THE MEETING DISCUSSIONS WILL NOT BE RELEASED PUBLICLY. WE
EXPECT THAT SOME DETAILS OF THE MEETING WILL EMERGE IN THE
COMING DAYS, BUT INITIAL REACTIONS FROM CONTACTS HERE DO NOT
INDICATE THAT THE CONFERENCE PORTENDS BIG CHANGES IN CHINA'S
FOREIGN POLICY.
SEDNEY