Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING5497
2007-08-20 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

PRC PRESIDENT TELLS IRANIAN COUNTERPART TO WORK

Tags:  PREL PTER MNUC PARM IR CH ZK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0709
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0016
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005497 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MNUC PARM IR CH ZK
SUBJECT: PRC PRESIDENT TELLS IRANIAN COUNTERPART TO WORK
WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE NUCLEAR ISSUE

REF: A. BISHKEK 1048

B. BEIJING 5186

C. BEIJING 5068

Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Dan Piccuta for reasons 1.4
(b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005497

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MNUC PARM IR CH ZK
SUBJECT: PRC PRESIDENT TELLS IRANIAN COUNTERPART TO WORK
WITH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE NUCLEAR ISSUE

REF: A. BISHKEK 1048

B. BEIJING 5186

C. BEIJING 5068

Classified By: (U) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Dan Piccuta for reasons 1.4
(b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Chinese President Hu Jintao told Iranian President
Ahmadinejad that Iran should "answer all the concerns of the
international community" over its nuclear program. According
to MFA Department of West Asian and North African Affairs
Director General Song Aiguo, President Hu, in an August 15
bilateral meeting on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) summit, noted to his Iranian counterpart
China's commitment to a peaceful, negotiated solution to the
Iranian nuclear issue and its interest in upholding the
international nonproliferation regime. Song told the DCM
August 18 that China's view is that as long as all sides
stick to peaceful means the Iranian nuclear issue can be
easily solved. The DCM responded that China and the United
States need to do more to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons and urged China to support a new UN Security Council
resolution on Iran and to step up efforts to ensure that
Chinese dual-use exports do not reach Iran. End Summary.

Atmospherics
--------------


2. (SBU) Almost immediately upon his return from accompanying
President Hu to Central Asia, DG Song on August 18 offered
the DCM a rare Saturday briefing. Song said that China
understands the great concern in Washington over Iran and is
eager to inform the United States about the Hu-Ahmadinejad
meeting. Song's body language throughout the meeting
indicated he thought the USG would be happy to hear Hu's
remarks to Ahmadinejad. (Song's remarks on the SCO summit
are reported septel.)

Hu: Address International Concerns
--------------


3. (C) Song said most of the two-hour bilateral meeting
August 15 between Presidents Hu and Ahmadinejad focused on
the nuclear issue. Song repeated three times that the key
point of President Hu's remarks was to urge the Iranian side
to have a "correct reading" of the current sensitive
situation, "to move the situation in the right direction" and
"to be flexible and answer all the concerns of the
international community." According to Song, Hu acknowledged
Iran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program and
stressed to Ahmadinejad the firm Chinese commitment to a
peaceful, negotiated diplomatic solution to the nuclear
issue, but pointed out China's interest in upholding the
international nonproliferation regime.

Ahmadinejad: Iran Working with IAEA
--------------


4. (C) According to Song, Ahmadinejad replied that Iran
appreciates China's commitment to a peaceful solution, has no
plans to develop nuclear weapons and does not seek rights
beyond international norms and International Atomic Energy
Administration (IAEA) standards. Song said that China
regards Iran's cooperation with the IAEA as a crucial factor
and Hu urged Ahmadinejad to continue such cooperation. Song
concluded that China's view is "as long as all sides stick to
peaceful means, the (Iranian nuclear) problem is not
difficult to solve." Song noted that inclusion of all
parties in discussions is important to a solution and praised
the recent meeting between the United States and Iran in Iraq.

DCM: Need to Do More on Iran
--------------


5. (C) The DCM thanked Song for his readout of the Hu-
Ahmadinejad meeting. Iran is a top U.S. foreign policy
concern. Iran plays a destabilizing role in the Middle East

BEIJING 00005497 002 OF 002


and, if it develops nuclear weapons or advanced missiles, the
situation will greatly worsen. Therefore, the United States
and China share a joint interest in cooperating to press Iran
to address international concerns over its nuclear program.
The U.S. view is that there is little hope that the IAEA
alone can resolv the international community's concerns.
Speciically, the United States would like China's support
for another UN Security Council resolution now that the May
24 deadline for Iranian compliance with relevant previous
UNSC resolutions has long passed. The United States would
appreciate stepped-up PRC efforts to stop dual-use Chinese
exports from reaching Iran. In response, Song reiterated
China's desire for a peaceful, negotiated solution and said
China takes very seriously the issue of weapons exports.
Unfortunately, he complained, the United States often seeks
to limit exports that have nothing to do with weapons.
However, China is ready for more discussions on this issue.
Piccuta