PRC-TAJIKISTAN: PREMIER WEN DISCUSSES BORDER,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 020105

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2031
TAGS: PREL PTER TI CH
SUBJECT: PRC-TAJIKISTAN: PREMIER WEN DISCUSSES BORDER,
ECONOMY AND COUNTERTERRORISM IN STATE VISIT

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel Shields.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: Premier Wen Jiabao's September 14-16 state
visit to Tajikistan focused on discussion of economic
development, the disputed China-Tajikistan border and
counterterrorism issues. A joint communiqu issued after the
visit emphasized the parties' desire to resolve territorial
disputes along their mountainous border and China's
willingness to support Tajikistan's economic development.
The countries agreed to continue to fight the spread of drugs
and terrorism. China is watching the upcoming Tajikistan
election closely, an academic specializing in the region told
us. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On September 14-16, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made
his first state visit to Tajikistan, holding bilateral talks
with President Emomali Rahmonov and attending the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) Prime Ministers' Meeting. Wen
expressed China's interest in concluding a friendship and
cooperation treaty with Tajikistan, while Rahmonov stated
Tajikistan's commitment to a one China policy and opposition
to Taiwan independence in any form.

Border Issues Remain To Be Resolved
--------------


3. (C) In a joint communiqu issued after the visit, China
and Tajikistan said comprehensively settling their border
dispute is a key to strengthening bilateral relations. The
Tajikistan border is the last among China's Central Asian
neighbors where a significant dispute exists, so the
communiqu's pledge that both sides will "do a good job in
border survey work and actively work to build the border ...
into one of peace, friendship and good neighborliness" is
significant, according to Xu Tao of the Russian and Central
Asian Department of the China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations.


4. (C) Xu said a 20,000 square kilometer mountainous area of
the border remains disputed. Prior to dissolution of the
USSR, the USSR had agreed for this territory to be given to
China in exchange for disputed territory along China's
northeastern border with Siberia being transferred to the
USSR, Xu said. But the disputed area is a significant part
of Tajikistan's territory so the issue has been difficult to
resolve ever since the Soviet Union's dissolution, Xu said.
Should the communiqu form a basis for agreement in principle
on border issues, the China-Tajikistan border dispute would
become one of survey, delimitation and marking, similar to
the type of border issues China has with its other Central
Asian neighbors, he said.

Prospects for Economic Development Need To Warm Up
-------------- --------------


5. (C) During the visit, China pledged its willingness to
support Tajikistan economic development, according to Zhang
Kunsheng (protect),the Executive Secretary for Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing, who was on the trip. China will
support basic infrastructure work in Tajikistan, Zhang said,
including on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, on a major highway
tunnel project, on two high-tension power lines that would
strengthen the Tajik electrical grid and on the country's
telecommunications network. Zhang said the need for economic
development was especially obvious to the Chinese delegation,
including FM Li, who had no heat in their chilly hotel rooms.

Counterterrorism and Anti-Drug Efforts
--------------


6. (C) In the joint communiqu, China and Tajikistan pledged
continued cooperation to combat the "three evils" of
terrorism, separatism and Islamic extremism.
Counterterrorism cooperation takes place bilaterally and
through the SCO, Zhang said. Wen and Rahmonov pledged to
strengthen drug interdiction efforts. Tajikistan leads the
SCO's anti-drug operation and is the largest producer and
transit point for drugs in Central Asia, with most of the
drugs transiting Tajikistan from Afghanistan, Xu said.
Economic development of Tajikistan will help, Xu said, but is
not likely to have an impact on the low incomes or other
conditions that breed terrorism and drug smuggling in
Tajikistan.

Upcoming Election
--------------


7. (C) China is watching the fall Presidential election in
Tajikistan closely, Xu said. Rahmonov is popular and China
has no doubt he will be reelected. The most important thing

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is that the election process not produce instability in the
country, Xu said.
RANDT