PRC/MEPP: CHINA TO ATTEND PARIS CONFERENCE, LIKELY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 007405 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA/IPA (BELGRADE) AND EEB/IFD/ODF (DEMARCELLUS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2027 TAGS: PREL EAID PTER MEPP CH FR IS SUBJECT: PRC/MEPP: CHINA TO ATTEND PARIS CONFERENCE, LIKELY TO PLEDGE NEW AID REF: SECSTATE 163955 Classified By: Minister Counselor for Political Affairs Aubrey Carlson. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points urging China to attend the donors' conference in support of the Palestinians to be held in Paris December 17 to MFA West Asian and North African Affairs Department Levant Division Deputy Director Xu Chen. ¶2. (C) Xu said that China will attend the conference and is considering sending Special Envoy to the Middle East Peace Process Ambassador Sun Bigan as its representative. The final decision on this would be reached early next week. Xu emphasized that China has a "very positive" view of the conference, seeing it as an important follow-up to China's participation in the Annapolis Conference. He added that, as Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi highlighted in his remarks at Annapolis, China believes that development and economic cooperation represent a critical part of the peace process. ¶3. (C) Xu reported that the PRC is "thinking positively" about announcing new aid for the Palestinians at the Paris meeting, adding that announcing new assistance is seen by China as the primary purpose of the meeting. He was unable at present, however, to provide specifics on what China might announce at the conference. RANDT