Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING746
2006-01-13 08:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH NPC SECRETARY
how-toVZCZCXRO0810 OO RUEHCN DE RUEHBJ #0746/01 0130815 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 130815Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5561 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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
-------
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
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