SECRETARY PAULSON, STATE FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION

UNCLAS BEIJING 005554 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD STATE PASS CEA STATE PASS EPA WASHDC TREASURY FOR OASIA/ISA DOHNER, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CH ECON EFIN ETRD EINV SENV SUBJECT: SECRETARY PAULSON, STATE FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION AGREE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL LOGGING SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On August 1, Secretary Paulson and State Forestry Administration (SFA) Administrator Jia Zhibang agreed on the need for the United States and China to collaborate on sustainable logging issues and asked staff to follow up at the working level. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Administrator Jia provided a brief introduction to the responsibilities of SFA, which include planting of trees, management of forest products, biodiversity, conservation of endangered wildlife, wetlands conservation and combating desertification. Administrator Jia boasted of the recent increase in investment in forest development and the number of forest conservation programs under SFA. The Chinese government has invested over 330 billion RMB on forest conservation projects in 25 provinces, said Jia. Administrator Jia stated that forest coverage in China has increased from 8% in 1949 to 18.21% at present. He said these programs not only benefit local farmers but also benefit the world's forest resources. Jia explained that although China has huge forests, it also has huge demand that can only be satisfied through imports. Jia said that SFA also supports China's energy efficiency and pollution reduction goals by working on carbon sequestration and biofuels. ¶3. (SBU) Secretary Paulson discussed his visit to Qinghai Lake to witness China's efforts on desertification, and referred to his prior experience with conservation and biodiversity work in China, suggesting that this could be another area where both sides could share best practices. Secretary Paulson discussed the role of the SED in bilateral SIPDIS relations and the importance of energy, environment and climate change at the SED. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in areas such as sustainable logging, and noted the increased responsibility of the United States and China as the largest importer and exporter respectively of forest products in the world. Secretary Paulson said that the United States and China should lead by example. He recognized China's work on combating illegal logging within China, and suggested that if the United States and China work together to combat illegal logging in other countries, both would benefit. Secretary Paulson said benefits include: maintaining old growth forests reduces climate change; science-based sustainable logging practices maintains resources; and preventing illegal logging stops other illegal activities and strengthens border security. ¶4. (SBU) Administrator Jia agreed with Paulson's points and said the key issue was to strengthen law enforcement. He explained domestic enforcement mechanisms, such as enforcement task forces, certification requirements to log trees in China and making logging quotas less than the incremental increase of forest coverage. Secretary Paulson agreed on the importance of law enforcement but reiterated that peventing illegal practices in other counties isneeded to realize the goal. Jia said that he was interested in further collaboration with Paulson on this issue and the next steps should be discussion at the working level. Jia said that officials from SFA's International Cooperation Department and Planning and Finance Department, both attending the meeting, would follow up on collaboration opportunities. ¶5. (U) Chinese Participants: Mr. Qu Guilin, SFA Director General International Cooperation Department Ms. Zhang Hongyan, SFA Deputy Director General International Cooperation Department Ms. Zhang Yanhong, SFA Deputy Director General Planning and Finance Department Mr. Huang Xiaoguang, SFA Deputy Director International Cooperation Department Mr. Chen Jiawen, SFA Deputy Director Planning and Finance Department Mr. Xia Jun, SFA Interpreter Mr. Huang Minjie, Ministry of Finance, notetaker ¶6. (U) Secretary Paulson's delegation cleared this cable. Piccuta