Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MADRID2831
2006-11-03 17:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
SPAIN: CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON NORTH KOREA
how-toVZCZCXRO9213 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #2831 3071714 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031714Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1248 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0657 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0687 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0660 RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2216
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002831
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON NORTH KOREA
Classified By: A/DCM Josie Shumake; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002831
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON NORTH KOREA
Classified By: A/DCM Josie Shumake; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Chinese Ambassador to Spain Qiu Xiaoqi called on the
Ambassador on October 31 for what Ambassador Xiaoqi described
as a courtesy call. The main purpose of his visit was to
call for increased cooperation and dialogue between the USG
and the Chinese Government on issues of mutual interest,
particularly on North Korea. Xiaoqi said that China was
against nuclear weapons proliferation involving any country,
whether it be North Korea or Iran. He said that the fact
that North Korea was hearing the same message from all UNSC
members for the first time would likely have a major impact
on Pyongyang. The Ambassador asked for Xiaoqi's view as to
whether North Korea fully comprehended the gravity of its
actions. Ambassador Xiaoqi expressed confidence that North
Korea had heard the unified message. He complained that the
international community overestimated China's influence with
North Korea, saying that while China had moved towards open
markets and greater openness, North Korea had remained stuck
in "another world."
2. (C) Ambassador Xiaoqi noted that he had spent most of his
career in Latin America, including four years in Cuba from
1982 to 1986. He noted that Cuba was still wedded to its
particular version of socialism and tended to blame the U.S.
for all of its problems, contrasting this with China's
embrace of free markets. He said that Cuba enjoyed natural
resources that would be economically important in the
post-Castro era. The Ambassador said that Cuba was a very
important issue for the U.S. and one that we frequently
discussed with Spain and other key partners. He noted that
the formula employed by China - free markets with a closed
political system - would be unacceptable in post-Castro Cuba
from the USG's perspective. Our view was that a rapid
transition to democracy would be critical to the
revitalization of Cuba.
//COMMENT//
3. (C) This visit marks the first time Ambassador Xiaoqi has
reached out to the Embassy since his arrival in 2003. We
assume that this indicates a broader instruction by the
Chinese Government to engage the USG in capitals worldwide.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: CHINESE AMBASSADOR ON NORTH KOREA
Classified By: A/DCM Josie Shumake; reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Chinese Ambassador to Spain Qiu Xiaoqi called on the
Ambassador on October 31 for what Ambassador Xiaoqi described
as a courtesy call. The main purpose of his visit was to
call for increased cooperation and dialogue between the USG
and the Chinese Government on issues of mutual interest,
particularly on North Korea. Xiaoqi said that China was
against nuclear weapons proliferation involving any country,
whether it be North Korea or Iran. He said that the fact
that North Korea was hearing the same message from all UNSC
members for the first time would likely have a major impact
on Pyongyang. The Ambassador asked for Xiaoqi's view as to
whether North Korea fully comprehended the gravity of its
actions. Ambassador Xiaoqi expressed confidence that North
Korea had heard the unified message. He complained that the
international community overestimated China's influence with
North Korea, saying that while China had moved towards open
markets and greater openness, North Korea had remained stuck
in "another world."
2. (C) Ambassador Xiaoqi noted that he had spent most of his
career in Latin America, including four years in Cuba from
1982 to 1986. He noted that Cuba was still wedded to its
particular version of socialism and tended to blame the U.S.
for all of its problems, contrasting this with China's
embrace of free markets. He said that Cuba enjoyed natural
resources that would be economically important in the
post-Castro era. The Ambassador said that Cuba was a very
important issue for the U.S. and one that we frequently
discussed with Spain and other key partners. He noted that
the formula employed by China - free markets with a closed
political system - would be unacceptable in post-Castro Cuba
from the USG's perspective. Our view was that a rapid
transition to democracy would be critical to the
revitalization of Cuba.
//COMMENT//
3. (C) This visit marks the first time Ambassador Xiaoqi has
reached out to the Embassy since his arrival in 2003. We
assume that this indicates a broader instruction by the
Chinese Government to engage the USG in capitals worldwide.
AGUIRRE