SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT DEMARCHE

S E C R E T BEIJING 003921 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2032 TAGS: PREL AF KG ZK CH SUBJECT: SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED; CHINA WELCOMES COOPERATION REF: STATE 77753 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Robert Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (S) China appreciates cooperation with the United States on issues concerning Central Asia and invites further dialogue, MFA Deputy Director General for Eurasia Zhang Xiao said in response to Acting Political Minister Counselor's delivery of reftel points on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Zhang observed that many themes of our message were discussed during the May regional subdialogue session between A/S Boucher and AFM Li Hui. Those talks had a good atmosphere and positive results. MFA will consider these demarche points carefully. Zhang emphasized that the SCO is unlikely to change its charter, which states that the SCO is not a military alliance and that its decisions are not directed at any third-party. He had no specific comment on the future of Manas Air Base. ¶2. (C) Responding to Polmincouns' question about SCO expansion, Zhang said the SCO believes it should focus for now on implementing substantive cooperation programs with its four existing observers: Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan. Further expansion of members is not possible under the SCO charter as it does not address the issue of increasing membership. Research is underway, however, regarding that issue. ¶3. (C) Zhang promised to give the United States a full read-out on the Summit after its conclusion in August. He encouraged further exchange on Central Asia between the Embassy and MFA's Eurasia Department. The SCO has conducted much dialogue with others in the international community during its nearly seven years in existence, Zhang said, and he expected the SCO would continue to develop in an open, transparent fashion. RANDT