Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING5186
2007-08-08 10:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

MFA PROVIDES "TRANSPARENCY" ON SCO SUMMIT AND

Tags:  PREL PTER MARR ZK XD CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0706
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0013
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 1298
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAABAD 6576
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1801
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 005186 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR ZK XD CH
SUBJECT: MFA PROVIDES "TRANSPARENCY" ON SCO SUMMIT AND
JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta. Reas
ons 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 005186

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MARR ZK XD CH
SUBJECT: MFA PROVIDES "TRANSPARENCY" ON SCO SUMMIT AND
JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Chief of Mission Dan Piccuta. Reas
ons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary: MFA Officials called in the DCM to tell him
the SCO Summit will cover economic development,
counterterrorism (CT) and regional stability, with joint
military exercises in Urumqi, China and Chelyabinsk, Russia
to follow. The SCO heads of state, along with the Presidents
of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Iran and the
Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan will observe
exercises in Russia. The Chinese government hopes that
sharing information will address United States' "concerns"
about the SCO activities. End Summary.

Upcoming Summit
--------------


2. (C) MFA DG for European Affairs Zheng Guoping called in
the DCM to the MFA August 8 to brief him on the upcoming
August 16 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Zheng said the SCO was founded "to
increase regional stability and security and to increase
communal development." The SCO is non-aligned and does not
target other nations, he said. All member nations are
economically underdeveloped and the primary goal of the SCO
is "self-development and the creation of livelihood for the
citizens of member nations.8 Zheng said the upcoming summit
is a regular SCO meeting to discuss progress since the
previous summit, held in Shanghai in June, 2006. China
expects summit deliverables to include a "treaty of long-term
neighborly cooperation," the "Bishkek declaration" and
unspecified "joint communiqus." He did not elaborate.

U.S. Role in Central Asia
--------------


3. (C) Zheng acknowledged close U.S. ties with Central Asia,
and stated that more prosperity in the region will lead to
more unity, stability and security. The SCO, therefore,
deserves support. He also anticipates future SCO cooperation
with the United States in the areas of counter terrorism,
counter narcotics, trade and economic development.

Joint Military Exercises
--------------


4. (C) Zheng said counter-terrorism military exercises
following the SCO summit will begin on August 9 in Urumqi and
then move to Chelyabinsk, Russia. They will comprise
command-post exercises and partial field training. The SCO
heads of State plus the presidents of Mongolia and Iran and
the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, observer nations
of the SCO, will observe the exercises. Summit host-nation
Kyrgyzstan also extended invitations to the presidents of
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, and to UN Under Secretary
General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe. Russia invited
the U.S. Defense Attache in Moscow to observe the military
exercise. All observers will travel directly from Bishkek to
Chelyabinsk, and will not attend the exercises in Urumqi.


5. (C) Zheng disputed past characterizations of the SCO as a
"NATO in Asia" with an anti-Western focus. He characterized
previous U.S. concerns about SCO meetings and joint military
exercises as "demonization," and said China provided this
information in the hope that the United States "will not take
this approach." He added that while open communication
amongst diplomats is important, he hopes that this
information will not be given to the press.


6. (C) DCM welcomed additional communication on SCO
intentions and activities, and the opportunity for a detailed
briefing following the summit and exercise, which they
promised.
RANDT