Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING7112
2006-04-14 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

A/S SHANNON DISCUSSES CHINA-LATIN AMERICA

Tags:  PREL PINR PGOV CH CU VE XM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3541
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #7112/01 1041052
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141052Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2979
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WHA DIPLOMATIC POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1290
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 007112 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV CH CU VE XM
SUBJECT: A/S SHANNON DISCUSSES CHINA-LATIN AMERICA
RELATIONS WITH PARTY CCID DG WANG HUA

BEIJING 00007112 001.2 OF 004


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

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 007112

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV CH CU VE XM
SUBJECT: A/S SHANNON DISCUSSES CHINA-LATIN AMERICA
RELATIONS WITH PARTY CCID DG WANG HUA

BEIJING 00007112 001.2 OF 004


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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) China's objectives in Latin America are to
establish a political partnership based on equality
and trust, to develop a cooperative economic
relationship and to deepen cultural exchanges,
Communist Party Central Committee International
Department (CCID) Director General for Latin America
Wang Hua told WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon.
China has also been reaching out to Latin America,
which Beijing sees as a "big school" for models of
development. Despite various crises in Latin America,
the region's level of development remains higher than
China's. Wang expressed hope that the United States
and China can cooperate in Latin America. He listened
intently as A/S Shannon outlined trends in U.S.-Latin
America relations, urged China to encourage Cuba to
open up to the outside world and called for caution by
China in its relations with Venezuela, particularly in
the area of military sales. End Summary.

Chinese Citizens Interested in A/S Shannon's Visit
-------------- --------------


2. (C) In an April 13 meeting, CCID Director General
for Latin America Wang Hua (see paras 13 and 14 for
bio information) welcomed A/S Shannon to China and
said a Chinese-language search for A/S Shannon's name
registers some 2,000 hits. This reflects Chinese
citizens' interest in A/S Shannon's visit to China for
dialogue with his MFA counterparts on Latin America
issues. Wang stressed the close coordination between
the CCID and the MFA. He and MFA DG for Latin America
Zeng Gang are close friends. While Zeng reports to FM
Li Zhaoxing and Wang reports to Party International
Department Minister Wang Jiarui, both report to Hu
Jintao, the President and Party Secretary.


3. (C) A/S Shannon noted high-level interest in the
U.S. Government in further developing U.S.-China
relations, understanding China's evolving relations

with Latin America and in exploring how the United
States and China can best work together on matters
relating to Latin America. There are many points of
convergence between U.S. and Chinese interests in
Latin America, he noted.

China-Latin America Party-Party Relations
--------------


4. (C) Wang gave an overview of the evolution of
party-party relations between China and Latin American
countries. More than 20 years ago, the leaders of the
Chinese Communist Party held a tight monopoly on
power, but following decades of reform, the situation
has changed. This affects the Party's relations with
political parties and groups in Latin America.
Initially, the CCID's relationships were confined to
other Communist Parties. In 1953 the Brazilian
Communist Party sent a delegation to China hosted by
the CCID. Following a revamping of Chinese foreign
policy in 1978, China reached out to non-Communist
parties in Latin America, sending a delegation to
Mexico in 1979 for PRI anniversary celebrations and
hosting Venezuela's COPEI Party in 1980. A/S Shannon
commented that COPEI had played an important role in
the democratization of Latin America in the 1980s,
which Wang acknowledged.

Four Principles in Party-Party Relations
--------------


5. (C) Wang stressed that China adheres to four
principles in party-party relations: 1) all parties
are independent and responsible to their people, 2)
all lawful parties, big or small, ruling or in
opposition, are equal, 3) all parties should respect
each other and the road of development they have
chosen and 4) no party should interfere in the

BEIJING 00007112 002.2 OF 004


internal affairs of another party. These four
principles track with China's five principles for
peaceful coexistence at the state-state level. Wang
said the Party has relations with more than 90
parties, including ruling and opposition parties of
varying ideological perspectives, in more than 30
countries in Latin America. When there are problems
in state-state relations, party-party relations can
play a helpful bridging role, he noted.

Six Factors in China-Latin America Relations
--------------


6. (C) The development of China-Latin America
relations is based on six factors, the first five
positive, the last one negative. First, China and the
nations of Latin America are all developing countries.
Second, they all face the challenges and opportunities
brought by globalization. Third, they seek an
appropriate development path that fits local
circumstances. Fourth, they support South-South
cooperation and North-South dialogue. Fifth, over the
last ten years Latin America has pursued multipolar
diplomacy and regional integration. The region has
reached out across the Pacific to countries including
China. China has also been reaching out to Latin
America, which Beijing sees as a "big school" for
models of economic and social development.


7. (C) Despite various crises in Latin America, the
region's level of economic and social development is
higher than China's. GDP per capita is USD 3,500 -
4,000 in Latin America, while per capita GDP in China
is only about USD 1,700, Wang noted. Sixth, Wang said
negative factors hindering the development of China-
Latin America relations include the enormous
geographic distances which lead to an absence of
direct flights, large cultural differences between
China and Latin America, and the lack of mutual
understanding. Latin culture is virtually
inaccessible to Chinese, Wang said.

Poverty Alleviation
--------------


8. (C) A/S Shannon noted that the most pressing
problem faced by many Latin American governments is
poverty reduction. There is much interest in Latin
America in learning from China in this area. Pointing
to the importance of including all people in economic
and governmental decision-making, A/S Shannon said
there is much for Latin America to learn from
multiracial societies like the United States and South
Africa. Improved living standards and continued
stability will depend on assuring that all people have
access to opportunities, he said.

U.S. Factor in China-Latin American Relations
--------------


9. (C) Wang said China's overall objectives for its
relations with Latin America are to establish a
political partnership based on equality and mutual
trust and support, to develop a cooperative economic
relationship that brings mutual benefits, and to
deepen cultural exchanges to enhance understanding.
Alluding to Taiwan's diplomatic relationships in the
region, Wang noted that twelve of the 33 Latin
American and Caribbean countries do not have
diplomatic relations with the PRC. He said China must
consider the U.S. factor when establishing relations
with Latin American countries and cited his hopes that
the U.S.-China dialogue on Latin America could help
ensure that the U.S. factor would be positive. Wang
asked A/S Shannon to outline U.S. views on China-Latin
America relations and asked for an evaluation of
trends in U.S.-Latin America relations.

U.S. Engagement in Latin America
--------------


10. (C) A/S Shannon said the Western Hemisphere has
made important strides toward recognizing democracy as

BEIJING 00007112 003.2 OF 004


the only legitimate form of government. This has
enabled the United States to maintain good relations
with the vast majority of governments in the region,
whether they are of the left, right or center. With
regard to economic development, the United States
believes that free markets and economic integration
will lead to prosperity and has worked to build
consensus around the commitment to integration.
Economic growth and democracy are only meaningful,
however, if all citizens have access to them. The
U.S. is encouraging investments in health and
education that will lead to broader prosperity.

Nontraditional Security Threats
--------------


11. (C) In the security realm, Shannon said, the
threats to democratic states in the region do not come
from other democratic states, but from nontraditional
security threats such as terrorism and drug
trafficking. This has significantly altered the
traditional basis for regional security relationships.
In a democratic hemisphere with a common understanding
of security threats and an economy based on free
trade, the United States could not pretend to
"control" the region. In this regard, China's interest
in Latin America comes at a time when we believe that
increased contact between Latin America and other
countries is very important. China's engagement could
be very positive, provided it respects the region's
fundamental commitment to democracy.

Cuba
--------------


12. (C) With regard to Cuba, U.S. policy is focused
on a transition to democracy in Cuba and reintegration
of a democratic Cuba into the inter-American system.
A/S Shannon suggested that China could be helpful in
encouraging Cuba to open up to the world and begin a
meaningful transition, which will make reintegration
easier. Regrettably, recent moves in Cuba have gone
in the opposite direction, with increased repression,
economic withdrawal and limits on diplomatic
engagement.

Venezuela
--------------


13. (C) A/S Shannon noted that the United States,
historically, has had close ties with Venezuela, which
have suffered a setback under President Chavez.
Chavez seeks to provoke conflict with the United
States for his own political purposes and has become
increasingly unreliable and difficult. The United
States is continuing to seek ways to improve relations
with Venezuela, but we are very concerned that Chavez
is committed to provoking a rupture between the United
States and other Latin American countries. We have
moved to limit our engagement with Venezuela in the
area of weapons sales and urge that China keep this in
mind in developing its relations with Venezuela.

Participants
--------------


14. (U) United States:

WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon
WHA Senior Executive Assistant John Creamer
Political Minister Counselor
Embassy Notetaker
Interpreter
Embassy Control Officer

China:

CCID DG Latin America Wang Hua
CCID Director North America Jiang Lin
CCID Latin America Research Director Chen Xiangyuan
Notetaker
Interpreter


BEIJING 00007112 004.2 OF 004


Official CV for Wang Hua
--------------


15. (U) Mr. Wang Hua, Han nationality, is the
Director-General for Latin American Affairs,
International Department of the Central Committee of
the CPC (IDCPC),the Council member at the Chinese
Association for International Understanding (CAIFU),
and Vice Chairman of Chinese Association for Latin
American Studies (CALAS).

Born in January 1956 in Jishou city, Hunan Province,
Mr. Wang studied Spanish and Latin American Literature
at Guangzhou Foreign Language Institute from December
1970 to December 1975, and started to work as a
Spanish interpreter in Foreign Affairs Office of
Guangdong Province in January 1976. In 1979, he
joined the Bureau for Latin American Affairs, IDCPC
and successively held offices of Deputy Division
Director and Division Director. From December 1996 to
January 1998, he served as Deputy Secretary of the CPC
County Committee of Binxian County, Shaanxi Province
on a training-on-the-job program. From August 1998 to
August 2003, he was Deputy Director-General for Latin
American Affairs of IDCPC and became Director-General
in August 2003.

Since 1981, Mr. Wang has held a concurrent post at
CAIFU, dedicating himself in the researches on
political, economic and social issues in Latin America
and the Caribbean. From December 1983 to August 1985,
he was sent by CAIFU as a visiting scholar to College
of Mexico (El Colegio de Mexico) for advanced studies
in International Relations. Since August 1998, he has
served as CAIFU council member. In October 2003, he
was elected as Vice Chairman of CALAS.

Mr. Wang was posted as Second Secretary from March
1990 to 1992 and First Secretary from April 1994 to
May 1996 at the Chinese Embassy in Peru.

Mr. Wang is married and has a daughter.

Additional Bio Note
--------------


16. (U) Wang made highly positive comments about a
training program he undertook in September 2005 at
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
RANDT