U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH NPC SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000746 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CH SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH NPC SECRETARY GENERAL SHENG HUAREN Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Parliamentary exchanges between the United States Congress and the NPC have been very successful over the past year, NPC Secretary General Sheng Huaren told a visiting delegation from the U.S.-China Working Group led by Congressmen Mark Kirk, Rick Larsen and Tom Feeney. China is keeping a close eye on the EU/Iran nuclear dialogue, but other countries should not become too involved. China calls for patience in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. End summary. Inter-parliamentary Exchanges -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The U.S.-China Working Group would like to increase regular exchanges with the NPC, Congressman Kirk told NPC Secretary General Sheng Huaren in their January 10 meeting. The NPC already has many exchanges with the U.S. Senate through the U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary Exchange as well as frequent ongoing exchanges with the House of Representatives U.S.-China Working Group, Sheng replied. The NPC highly values its exchanges with the United States Congress and welcomes the activities of the Working Group. The two sides noted that the next delegation of NPC deputies will head to Washington in March, which will be followed by a group of twelve U.S. Senators visiting China in August. At the next meeting, Sheng said the U.S. side is interested in discussing security issues, energy issues, intellectual property rights, currency valuation, North Korean nuclear issues and non-proliferation. The discussion topics for the Chinese side will include Taiwan, the peaceful rise of China and bilateral trade frictions. EU Iran Nuclear Dialogue -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Congressman Kirk cited Congressional concern about the EU/IAEA nuclear dialogue with Iran and asked Secretary General Sheng's view on actions the United SIPDIS States and China could undertake to support a peaceful solution. The world community is watching the EU/Iran nuclear discussions very closely, Sheng replied. With regard to the Iran issue and non-proliferation, China's policy is consistent with that of the United States. Nevertheless, the EU/Iran dialogue should be handled without interference from outside parties. This is a very sensitive issue and if too many countries become involved it will only lead to more problems. ¶4. (SBU) Congressman Larsen expressed concerns about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statements on the nuclear issue and asked Sheng why he has confidence that Ahmadinejad's position can be moderated. Sheng said China believes the EU and Iran should work out this problem and that others should allow them to do so. Six-party Talks -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Congressman Feeney asked Sheng if China is prepared to do more to pressure the DPRK to give up its nuclear ambitions. Sheng replied that patience is important in dealing with both Iran and the DPRK. However, the main problem in both cases is lack of trust on both sides. China continues to work with all sides to encourage progress on the North Korean nuclear issue. The maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through the Six-party Talks is in the interests of the United States and China. The Chinese side has made enormous efforts to get the Six- Party Talks to move forward, and the United States and China should consult more closely on the problems. ¶6. (U) Participants: U.S. Delegation -------------- Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL) Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) Representative Tom Feeney (R-FL) Stephan Orlins, President, National Committee on U.S.- China Relations Richard Goldberg, U.S.-China Working Group Co-Staff BEIJING 00000746 002 OF 002 Director Dr. Yang Hong, Bryant University Embassy Control Officer and Notetaker Chinese Delegation -------------- NPC Secretary General Sheng Huaren NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chairman Lu Congmin Zhu Xueqing, Director General NPC Foreign Affairs Bureau MFA Officers ¶7. (U) The delegation has cleared this cable. Randt