S/CRS WORKS WITH CHINA ON A RECONSTRUCTION AND

UNCLAS BEIJING 006872 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV CH KCRS SUBJECT: S/CRS WORKS WITH CHINA ON A RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION WORKSHOP ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Visiting officials from S/CRS participated in a successful Reconstruction and Stabilization Workshop in Beijing on October 24-25. The MFA organized the workshop, with attendance by representatives of several Chinese ministries. Each side briefed on its international emergency response policies. In separate meetings with the MFA, S/CRS outlined two proposals for future bilateral cooperation. The MFA expressed concern that S/CRS' proposals are ambitious for China at the moment, but voiced enthusiasm for continued bilateral exchanges of some kind on this issue. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) S/CRS officers participated in an October 24-25 Reconstruction and Stabilization Workshop organized by the MFA in Beijing. S/CRS officials noted shared interest in creating a stable global environment in the face of new security challenges and the need to expand international partnerships. S/CRS outlined the S/CRS mission for Chinese Government officials attending the workshop, explained how S/CRS handles planning for reconstruction and stabilization and responded to Chinese questions during a question and answer session. The second day of the workshop was devoted to a Chinese presentation on Chinese peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts abroad. The Chinese emphasized the importance to China of operating under a United Nations umbrella and noted that China has yet to engage in larger reconstruction and stabilization efforts. The following ministries and entities all presented at the Workshop: MFA, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Meteorological Administration and the Red Cross Society of China. ¶3. (SBU) In meetings with MFA officials following the workshop, S/CRS proposed two possible next steps to build on this new channel of exchange and cooperation. S/CRS offered to host a case-study exercise in which the United States and China would work together on a reconstruction and stabilization scenario. MFA International Organizations Department Deputy Director Yao Shaojun said that in his personal view China should first act as an observer to such an exercise before being an actual participant, but stressed that China hopes to continue developing bilateral exchanges on stabilization and reconstruction and emergency response. S/CRS presented a second proposal to bring reconstruction and stabilization onto the agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Yao deferred to his MFA colleagues working in the Asia Department but again noted his personal opinion that this was perhaps a "bridge too far." He said he thinks China and the United States should initially work together bilaterally to build mutual confidence and trust. S/CRS agreed to consult with EAP to prepare a paper for the MFA on the U.S. idea of bringing reconstruction and stabilization into the ARF to better clarify this idea. ¶4. (SBU) The delegation cleared this cable. Randt