PRC/AFRICA: MFA PRESS BRIEFING ON HU JINTAO'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 000569

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV XA SU CH
SUBJECT: PRC/AFRICA: MFA PRESS BRIEFING ON HU JINTAO'S
UPCOMING TRIP TO AFRICA



1. Key points made by Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai
Jun at the January 24 MFA press briefing on President
Hu's upcoming visit to Africa were:

-- Hu will visit Africa from January 30 to February 10,
including stops in Cameroon (Jan. 30-Feb. 1),Liberia
(Feb. 1),Sudan (Feb. 2-3),Zambia (Feb. 3-5),Namibia
(Feb. 5-6),South Africa (Feb. 6-8),Mozambique (Feb.
8-9) and Seychelles (Feb. 9-10).

-- The PRC believes the Sudan Government seeks to
improve the situation in Darfur and that the Darfur
issue must be resolved through dialogue.

-- The PRC opposes sanctions on the Sudan Government.

-- China feels it is unfairly criticized for its trade
practices with Africa, which are mutually beneficial
to China and Africa.

-- Hu will announce increased Chinese investment in
Africa and establish the first of 35 proposed
investment zones in Zambia during the trip.

Eleven Days, Eight Countries
--------------


2. AFM Zhai Jun announced that President Hu will visit
eight African countries from January 30-February 10,
his first trip abroad in 2007. The trip is designed
to implement the eight steps to promote China-Africa
cooperation Hu outlined last year during the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
(FOCAC),to consolidate trade and development ties and
to strengthen and deepen China's new strategic
partnership with African countries, AFM Zhai said.
Providing a run-down of each State Visit, AFM Zhai
noted that President Hu could not visit all forty-
eight countries that attended FOCAC in one trip, but
the eight countries to be visited vary in size, region
and length of time of diplomatic ties with the PRC so
as to be representative of the broad scope of China's
links with Africa. AFM Zhai noted that each country
supported the one China policy and said that President
Hu would discuss relevant trade and development
concerns at each stop in addition to local and
regional issues. The leaders of the eight countries
each attach great importance to President Hu's visit
and have arranged carefully to ensure positive
outcomes, AFM Zhai said.

Cameroon: Smooth Ties
--------------


3. AFM Zhai described China-Cameroon bilateral ties as
smooth. President Hu will pay a state visit to
Cameroon from January 30 to February 1 at the
invitation of President Biya, following Biya's recent
visit to China. Hu will meet with the President and
the Speaker of Parliament and visit a Chinese
construction project. The leaders will discuss local
and regional concerns and exchange views on FOCAC
implementation. Trade between the two countries
reached USD 338 million for the first eleven months of
2006, a 100 percent year-on-year increase from 2005.
Cameroon has become an approved tourist destination
for Chinese tour groups, AFM Zhai noted.

Liberia: Burgeoning Trade
--------------


4. On February 1 President Hu will pay a state visit
to Liberia at the invitation of President Johnson
Sirleaf, AFM Zhai said, noting President Johnson
Sirleaf paid a state visit to China in connection with
FOCAC. The Liberian government greatly values its
relations with China, which were reestablished in 2003,
and the visit will promote further growth in the
bilateral relationship, AFM Zhai said. President Hu
will meet with President Johnson Sirleaf and other
leaders, attend the opening of a Chinese-sponsored
malaria control center and visit Chinese military and
police personnel participating in the United Nations
Mission in Liberia peacekeeping operation. Trade with
Liberia reached USD 375 million during the first
eleven months of 2006, up 305 percent from 2005, AFM
Zhai said.

Sudan: Major Trade Partner
--------------

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5. President Hu will visit Sudan from February 2-3 at
the invitation of President al-Bashir, who has twice
visited China, AFM Zhai said, noting that bilateral
relations have grown smoothly since they were
established in 1959. President Hu and President
Bashir will discuss bilateral and regional issues of
mutual interest, including the situation in Darfur.
Noting Sudan is China's third largest trading partner
in Africa, AFM Zhai said bilateral trade for the first
six month of 2006 was USD 2.9 billion, down slightly
from 2005 levels due primarily to fluctuations in
petroleum prices and normal supply and demand.
Economic agreements are being prepared in advance of
President Hu's visit, AFM Zhai added.

Zambia: Special Trade Zone
--------------


6. President Hu will meet President Mwanawasa and
establish a Special Trade Zone in Zambia during his
February 3-5 trip to the country, AFM Zhai said,
adding that the two countries share a profound
friendship. This will be the first Chinese Special
Trade Zone established in Africa pursuant to President
Hu's eight-point proposal at FOCAC. China is Zambia's
third largest foreign investor, with over 180 Chinese
companies active in the country in such areas as
agriculture, communications and infrastructure
development. Trade during the first eleven months of
2006 reached USD 310 million, AFM Zhai said.

Namibia: Rising Trade
--------------


7. At the invitation of Namibian President Pohamba,
President Hu will visit Namibia from February 5-6 to
meet with Pohamba and former President Nujoma. China
supported Namibia's fight for independence and this
visit follows a visit to China by President Pohamba in

2005. Namibia has become a Chinese approved tourist
destination and trade reached USD 240 million for the
first eleven months of 2006, up 103 percent from 2005,
AFM Zhai said.

South Africa: Speech to Youth
--------------


8. To underscore the importance of China and South
Africa's strategic partnership, President Hu will
travel to South Africa February 6-8, AFM Zhai said.
President Hu will meet President Mbeki and, at
Pretoria University, deliver a speech to Africa's
youth. South Africa is China?s largest trading
partner in Africa with a trade volume of USD 8.83
billion in the first eleven months of 2006. More than
40,000 Chinese tourists visited South Africa in 2005.
South Africa is a very influential country and Sino-
South African cooperation is developing very rapidly
across a great number of fields, AFM Zhai added.

Mozambique, Seychelles: Closer Ties
--------------


9. President Hu will visit Mozambique February 8-9.
Hu will meet President Guebuza and the Speaker of the
Parliament and open a Chinese-sponsored agricultural
technology center, AFM Zhai noted. The visit builds
on opportunities for cooperation discussed at the
Second Ministerial Conference of the Forum on Economic
and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-
Speaking Countries held in Macao last year. In the
first eleven months of 2006, China-Mozambique
bilateral trade reached USD 190 million, a fivefold
increase from 2001, AFM Zhai said. In response to a
reporter's question, AFM Zhai said he had no
information on unfulfilled investment pledges by China
or Chinese companies in Mozambique. AFM Zhai said
during the visit President Hu will announce new
assistance packages to Mozambique and sign a number of
economic and trade documents.


10. President Hu will conclude his Africa tour with a
visit to the Seychelles from February 9-10, AFM Zhai
said. President Hu will meet President Michel and
seek to promote friendly cooperation across a range of
issues. This is President Hu's first trip to the
Seychelles and follows President Michel's attendance
at the Beijing Summit, AFM Zhai added.


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Sudan: AFM Zhai Testy On China's Role
--------------


11. During the press conference, AFM Zhai fielded a
number of questions on Sudan/Darfur, with reporters
asking whether President Hu would press President
Bashir for a solution, whether China would curb its
arms sales to the Government of National Unity (GNU)
and what practical steps China would take to help
address the crisis in Darfur. AFM Zhai acknowledged
Darfur would likely be on the agenda when Presidents
Hu and al-Bashir meet and said China follows the
Darfur situation closely. China has had frequent
contacts with all relevant parties and worked to
resolve the situation through multiple diplomatic
channels, including senior-level contacts and written
correspondence. The GNU has the will to solve the
Darfur issue and wants to pursue Sudan's development,
AFM Zhai said.


12. Frequently animated in his responses, AFM Zhai
said the Darfur issue is complex and involves many
variables, including an ongoing dialogue between the
GNU and some rebel groups, the question of
international peacekeepers and humanitarian
considerations. The press should get its facts
straight before challenging China's policies. The GNU,
the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN)
have reached a preliminary agreement for a
peacekeeping operation (PKO) in Darfur pursuant to
former UN Secretary General Annan's three phase
proposal. Discussions continue but the overall
direction is positive, AFM Zhai said, noting he had
recently returned from Sudan. The Darfur Peace
Agreement (DPA) in itself indicates the situation is
improving, but the non-signatory rebel groups should
join the DPA. AFM Zhai said that China would consider
contributing peacekeepers to a PKO agreed to by the
GNU, AU and UN but it is too early to discuss such
contingencies. If the Darfur issue is settled, a PKO
will not be needed, AFM Zhai said.


13. AFM Zhai stressed that China clearly favors
national reconciliation and peace and stability in
Sudan and the region. Darfur's instability can affect
neighboring countries, but Sudan's sovereignty and
territorial integrity must be respected. The GNU's
consent is critical for any PKO deployment because the
GNU best understands the situation on the ground.
Sanctions and other undue pressures are not practical
and will only complicate matters, leading to a bad
settlement, AFM Zhai warned. AFM Zhai bristled at
questions related to China's arms sales to the GNU,
saying that China only sells arms to sovereign
national governments, requires buyers not to transfer
the weapons to third parties without Chinese consent
and abides by all applicable UN regulations and
international law. In response to a specific question,
AFM Zhai denied knowledge of a GNU raid on the
compound of a non-governmental organization hosting UN
and AU personnel.


14. Responding to questions about China's "grab for
Africa's resources," AFM Zhai strenuously defended
Chinese policy as mutually beneficial to both Africa
and China. Africa's strengths are its natural
resources. China's cooperation and investment helps
African countries utilize these strengths to drive
economic development and improve the lives of their
citizens. Moreover, China imports a mere 30 million
barrels of oil from Africa a day, a fraction of what
others who escape scrutiny import. If China were
looting African resources, AFM Zhai said, then African
countries would be opposed to such actions as they
have opposed Western colonialist powers for hundreds
of years. China has been subjected to foreign
invasion and knows how African countries feel.
African countries love China and seek cooperation with
China, AFM Zhai said. The unprecedented turnout of
African leaders in Beijing for the 2006 FOCAC Summit
shows the positive views African leaders have of China,
AFM Zhai said.


15. AFM Zhai responded to a New York Times?
reporter's point that China has been reluctant to
cooperate with other multilateral donors and
international financial institutions by saying that
China-Africa cooperation is open and transparent.
China consults with the European Union and European
countries on Africa. Sino-African cooperation is

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merely a subset of China's broader relations with the
international community, which include South-South
cooperation and other multilateral forums. With
Africa, China fosters cooperation in all fields,
including agriculture, health, culture and education
and requires companies give back to the community, not
just through money but through development projects,
directly benefiting the local people. AFM Zhai said
China asks its corporations to establish schools,
hospitals, bridges and malaria control centers, all
projects designed to benefit local communities.

PRC To Boost Investment Levels
--------------


16. Asked to provide details on any energy and mineral
deals that might be announced during President Hu?'
visit, AFM Zhai said that last year Chinese
investments in Africa totaled between USD 7 and 8
billion and he sees great potential for further growth,
noting the China-Africa development fund President Hu
announced during FOCAC. AFM Zhai emphasized that
President Hu's visit will build on the success of the
Beijing Summit and work to implement the eight policy
measures for China-Africa cooperation announced in
Beijing. The focus of these efforts, as outlined in
the policy measures, will be on increasing investment,
alleviating poverty and reducing debt. AFM Zhai
mentioned building agricultural centers, cooperative
zones and rural schools as specific types of
assistance. Under President Hu's FOCAC proposal,
China will establish 35 special trade zones, AFM Zhai
noted.


17. AFM Zhai refuted charges that PRC investments in
Zambia created unrest last year, stating that
occasional problems in a cooperative trade
relationship are normal. China-Zambia relations are
in good shape and investment and trade have both
increased. A reported incident between Zambian
laborers and a Chinese company was part and parcel of
corporate-labor relations, AFM Zhai said. Strikes are
normal even in European countries. AFM Zhai conceded
that doing business in Africa is new to Chinese
companies, noting that the Chinese government will try
to educate businesses to respect local laws and
customs and promote deeper cooperation.

RANDT