TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETERS? MEETING WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002786 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE ALSO FOR EB/TRA/AN ENGLE AND HORWITZ STATE ALSO FOR CA/VO STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD, ALTBACH, CELICO TRANSPORTATION FOR X1, X40 TRANSPORTATION FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ? OPPLER AND GLANTZ USDOC FOR ITA/OCEA/MCQUEEN USDOC FOR ITA DAS KASOFF NSC FOR TONG, SHRIER TREASURY FOR OASIA/ISA ? HAARSAGER, WINSHIP, CUSHMAN TREASURY FOR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SMITH TREASURY FOR AMBASSADOR HOLMER, DANIEL WRIGHT MONTREAL FOR USICAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ECON BEXP PGOV OVIP SECRETARY PETERS CH SUBJECT: TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETERS? MEETING WITH MINISTER OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CIVIL AVIATION OF CHINA YANG YUANYUAN ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Secretary of Transportation Mary ¶E. Peters discussed a broad range of bilateral aviation issues during her meeting with General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) Minister Yang Yuanyuan on April 13, 2007. The meeting included a signing ceremony for a record of discussion on economic regulation that will broaden the scope of the United States-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) in China. End Summary. Next Steps in Advancing Aviation Liberalization Talks -------------- -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) Secretary Peters began the meeting by stating that the first Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) included an agreement to further liberalize air transport between our two countries. Two rounds of negotiations have been completed since the SED, but more progress is needed to accomplish the liberalization goal. Secretary Peters noted that there is another round of negotiations scheduled for the end of April. Washington hopes Beijing will assemble a negotiating team that is fully empowered to make a deal. Secretary Peters said that meaningful progress needs to be made this year to address growing criticism in the United States that China is dragging its feet on liberalization. ¶3. (SBU) Minister Yang stated that CAAC is also under pressure to make progress on further liberalization. CAAC will empower its delegation to negotiate accordingly. Minister Yang said that Beijing has several concerns that it hopes Washington will keep in mind during the negotiations. First, there is an imbalance between the development of the two countries' airline industries; second, China so far lacks adequate economic regulations to permit full market liberalization of its domestic air transport industry; third, China's aviation- related infrastructure remains immature and needs further development; and finally, Beijing has safety concerns given that more than 400 foreign flights enter China daily. Minister Yang stated that Beijing recognizes that further liberalization will help to solve some of these problems, but Beijing hopes Washington will demonstrate some flexibility during the negotiations in recognition that these problems cannot be solved overnight. Cooperation on Regulations, NGATS and Emissions Policies -------------- -- ¶4. (SBU) Secretary Peters thanked Minister Yang for CAAC's empowerment of its negotiators. Washington recognizes that China's aviation industry is concerned about the effects of further liberalization and that China's economic regulations are still evolving. Secretary Peters stated that Washington is willing to share its experience in deregulating the United States' aviation industry. United States-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) would be a good venue to explore this cooperation. Secretary Peters stated that the use of United States Government money to fund the program demonstrates Washington's commitment to the ACP. Beijing and Washington should discuss BEIJING 00002786 002 OF 003 expanding the ACP to cover other issues, such as economic regulation. ¶5. (SBU) Minister Yang stated that China looks forward to working with the United States in the development and implementation of the next generation air transportation system (NGATS). Beijing hopes to cooperate with Washington on the development of the standards and regulations that will accompany NGATS. Secretary Peters stated that NGATS is DOT's highest legislative priority in 2007. The United States and China can help each other and learn from one another as NGATS is developed and fielded. Secretary Peters noted that the United States uses technology as a means to mitigate the impact of air space limitations, such as those resulting from military restrictions of certain airspace. Washington hopes Beijing is making similar judgments as it manages China's air space. ¶6. (SBU) Minister Yang stated that another area of cooperation should be in aviation emissions. Washington and Beijing collaborate in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure that appropriate, responsible measures are taken on this issu. Secretary Peters stated that Washington is concerned that aviation emission proposals by the European Union (EU) if enacted would hurt aviation industry growth. Washington agrees with Beijing that the ICAO assessment is the best way forward to address the emissions issue. Opens Skies Treaty with EU and Doing Business in China -------------- -------------- -- ¶7. (SBU) In response to a question from Minister Yang, Secretary Peters explained that the recent signing of an Open Skies agreement with the European Union is a great opportunity for the aviation industry in the United States and Europe. Airlines from both sides will have much greater access to one another's markets. Secretary Peters stated an important aspect of the agreement is that it will not be enacted until March 2008. This will allow the aviation sector and respective governments to fully prepare for implementation. Secretary Peters also noted that Washington and Brussels negotiated a follow-on phase to the initial agreement that will allow for more liberalization in the future. ¶8. (SBU) Secretary Peters stated that several United States companies have expressed concerns about their business opportunities in China. Motorola would like the opportunity to bid on airport security projects; Boeing is looking to expand its aviation sales; Sabre Holdings would like to operate aviation services; and Mesa Airlines hopes that Beijing will continue to support its efforts to offer domestic airline service in China. Minister Yang stated that Beijing supports Mesa's bid to start this service, but for now, there are no slots available in Beijing. CAAC is recommending that Mesa begin its service in Xian and expand to Beijing in the future, perhaps through slots that may become available at military air fields. Minister Yang noted that Motorola and Boeing are both very famous brands in China and the Chinese Government supports the expansion of their respective businesses in China. In fact, CAAC BEIJING 00002786 003 OF 003 wants to hold a seminar between Boeing and the Chinese aviation industry on fleet planning requirements beyond ¶2010. United States Participants -------------- ¶9. (U) United States Government attendees at the Secretary's meeting on April 13 were: SIPDIS Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters SIPDIS Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Andrew Steinberg Deputy Chief of Staff Simon Gros Assistant to the Secretary for Policy Jana Weir Assistant to the Secretary for Public Affairs Sarah Echols Special Assistant to the Secretary for Scheduling and Advance Brooke Evans Embassy Special Assistant to the Ambassador Michael Crain Embassy Economic Section Trade and Investment Policy Unit Chief Eric Madison Embassy Economic Officer Brian Jones (note taker) Embassy Economic Officer Kamal Latham Embassy Economic Officer Brian Klein Embassy Economic Officer Michael Pignatello Chinese Participants -------------- ¶10. (U) Senior Chinese Government attendees included: Minister of General Administration of Civil Aviation of China YANG Yuanyuan CAAC Vice Minister YANG Guoqing CAAC Director General of International Affairs and Cooperation LI Jiangmin ¶11. (U) Secretary Peters? delegation has cleared this report. RANDT