Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING747
2006-01-13 08:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH GANSU GOVERNOR
how-toVZCZCXRO0814 OO RUEHCN DE RUEHBJ #0747/01 0130821 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 130821Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5563 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000747
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO NASA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH GANSU GOVERNOR
LU HAO
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000747
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO NASA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH GANSU GOVERNOR
LU HAO
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) During a meeting between a visiting
delegation from the U.S.-China Working Group led by
Congressmen Mark Kirk, Rick Larsen and Tom Feeney and
Gansu Governor Lu Hao, the two sides discussed
increased educational exchanges between Gansu
universities and University of Illinois. The space
launch facility located in Gansu has limited local
economic impact beyond locally provided support
services, the Governor highlighted. Despite rapid
economic growth and significant fiscal support from
the central government Gansu's economy continues to
lag behind. End summary.
Bilateral Exchanges
--------------
2. (SBU) Gansu Governor Lu Hao thanked Congressman
Kirk for his assistance in supporting his visit to the
United States in September of 2005. The Governor's
visit also included a trip to Oklahoma to celebrate
the twentieth anniversary of their relationship as
sister regions. During the visit he signed an MOU
with Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry pledging to push
economic, educational, scientific and cultural
cooperation.
3. (U) Congressman Kirk presented Governor Lu with a
letter from the Chancellor of the University of
Illinois expressing his desire to build an academic
relationship with Lanzhou University and Gansu
Agricultural University. Governor Lu said that he was
very pleased to receive the letter and that Gansu
hopes to build stronger academic ties with the
University. Regional and educational cooperation is a
very important part of the overall U.S.-China
relationship, Governor Lu noted.
Gansu Launch Site
--------------
4. (SBU) Responding to a question from Congressman
Feeney, the Governor said that the space center is
mainly engaged in research and launch activities,
which does not filter down to the local economy.
However, the support services for the launch site are
provided locally, which is beneficial to the local
economy.
Gansu Economy
--------------
5. (SBU) Congressman Rick Larsen asked Governor Lu if
he could give the delegation more background on the
economy of Gansu including the difference between
Gansu and the more developed regions of China. The
economy of Gansu is primarily based upon resource
extraction and basic manufacturing including
petrochemicals, steel and ferrous metals production,
he noted. Despite 11 percent growth last year, the
per capita income of Lanzhou is only 78 percent of the
national average, while rural Gansu is only 68
percent, he added. However, he claimed, the cost of
living is much lower in Gansu than it is in coastal
cities like Beijing. Housing costs 10,000 RMB per sqm
in Beijing, but in Lanzhou it is only 2000 RMB per
sqm, he added.
6. Central government support to develop the western
region of China has led to major investments in
expressway, city and rural transportation
infrastructure and water and sewage treatment, the
Governor noted. The central government has also
invested significant amounts into education and health
services for western regions like Gansu. As an
example of central government support for the West,
Governor Lu noted that the fiscal revenues of Gansu
Province were only 25 billion RMB while the actual
expenditures were 40 billion RMB.
7. (U) Participants:
U.S. Delegation
--------------
Representative Mark Kirk
Representative Rick Larsen
Representative Tom Feeney
BEIJING 00000747 002 OF 002
Deputy Chief of Mission David Sedney
Stephan Orlins, President, National Committee on U.S.-
China Relations
Richard Goldberg, U.S.-China Working Group Co-Staff
Director
Dr. Yang Hong, Bryant University
Embassy Control Officer and Notetaker
Chinese Delegation
--------------
Lu Hao, Gansu Province Governor
Jiao Qing, Deputy Secretary General Gansu Provincial
Government
Guo Yingchun, Director General Gansu Province Foreign
Affairs Office
MFA Officers
8. (U) The delegation has cleared this cable.
Randt
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO NASA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHINA WORKING GROUP MEETS WITH GANSU GOVERNOR
LU HAO
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) During a meeting between a visiting
delegation from the U.S.-China Working Group led by
Congressmen Mark Kirk, Rick Larsen and Tom Feeney and
Gansu Governor Lu Hao, the two sides discussed
increased educational exchanges between Gansu
universities and University of Illinois. The space
launch facility located in Gansu has limited local
economic impact beyond locally provided support
services, the Governor highlighted. Despite rapid
economic growth and significant fiscal support from
the central government Gansu's economy continues to
lag behind. End summary.
Bilateral Exchanges
--------------
2. (SBU) Gansu Governor Lu Hao thanked Congressman
Kirk for his assistance in supporting his visit to the
United States in September of 2005. The Governor's
visit also included a trip to Oklahoma to celebrate
the twentieth anniversary of their relationship as
sister regions. During the visit he signed an MOU
with Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry pledging to push
economic, educational, scientific and cultural
cooperation.
3. (U) Congressman Kirk presented Governor Lu with a
letter from the Chancellor of the University of
Illinois expressing his desire to build an academic
relationship with Lanzhou University and Gansu
Agricultural University. Governor Lu said that he was
very pleased to receive the letter and that Gansu
hopes to build stronger academic ties with the
University. Regional and educational cooperation is a
very important part of the overall U.S.-China
relationship, Governor Lu noted.
Gansu Launch Site
--------------
4. (SBU) Responding to a question from Congressman
Feeney, the Governor said that the space center is
mainly engaged in research and launch activities,
which does not filter down to the local economy.
However, the support services for the launch site are
provided locally, which is beneficial to the local
economy.
Gansu Economy
--------------
5. (SBU) Congressman Rick Larsen asked Governor Lu if
he could give the delegation more background on the
economy of Gansu including the difference between
Gansu and the more developed regions of China. The
economy of Gansu is primarily based upon resource
extraction and basic manufacturing including
petrochemicals, steel and ferrous metals production,
he noted. Despite 11 percent growth last year, the
per capita income of Lanzhou is only 78 percent of the
national average, while rural Gansu is only 68
percent, he added. However, he claimed, the cost of
living is much lower in Gansu than it is in coastal
cities like Beijing. Housing costs 10,000 RMB per sqm
in Beijing, but in Lanzhou it is only 2000 RMB per
sqm, he added.
6. Central government support to develop the western
region of China has led to major investments in
expressway, city and rural transportation
infrastructure and water and sewage treatment, the
Governor noted. The central government has also
invested significant amounts into education and health
services for western regions like Gansu. As an
example of central government support for the West,
Governor Lu noted that the fiscal revenues of Gansu
Province were only 25 billion RMB while the actual
expenditures were 40 billion RMB.
7. (U) Participants:
U.S. Delegation
--------------
Representative Mark Kirk
Representative Rick Larsen
Representative Tom Feeney
BEIJING 00000747 002 OF 002
Deputy Chief of Mission David Sedney
Stephan Orlins, President, National Committee on U.S.-
China Relations
Richard Goldberg, U.S.-China Working Group Co-Staff
Director
Dr. Yang Hong, Bryant University
Embassy Control Officer and Notetaker
Chinese Delegation
--------------
Lu Hao, Gansu Province Governor
Jiao Qing, Deputy Secretary General Gansu Provincial
Government
Guo Yingchun, Director General Gansu Province Foreign
Affairs Office
MFA Officers
8. (U) The delegation has cleared this cable.
Randt