LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 1 VISIT OF CHINESE PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000282

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS AND INR/AA-BGRAVES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2017
TAGS: EAID PREL LI CH
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: FEBRUARY 1 VISIT OF CHINESE PRESIDENT

REF: A. MONROVIA 00066

B. 06 MONROVIA 1553

MONROVIA 00000282 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD E. BOOTH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Liberia
for a one-day visit February 1. According to Chinese Embassy
Political Counselor Gou Hao Dong, it was the first visit by a
Chinese head of state to Liberia since the two countries
first established diplomatic relations in 1977. Gou told
Poloff February 26 that both the Liberian and Chinese
governments were "satisfied" with the visit and that the
Chinese Government is now sure that Liberia will not
reconsider its one-China policy. Gou said China will provide
the following to Liberia as a result of the visit: 1) US $1
million for the Liberian Government to use at its discretion,
2) US $10 million grant for rehabilitation of the University
of Liberia's Fendell campus, 3) an anti-malaria treatment
center for Monrovia's JFK Hospital, 4) three rural schools,
5) an increased number of scholarships for Liberian students,
6) cancellation of Liberia's matured debt up to 2005 (US $11
million). Gou told Poloff the Chinese Government will also
establish a cultural center in Liberia. Most of these
deliverables had already been announced after President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf's November 2006 visit to China. Deputy
Minister of Foreign Relations for International Cooperation
Conmany Wesseh told Poloff February 2 that the Liberian
Government wants to see its friendship with China increase
and encouraged the U.S. to work with the Chinese Government
in Liberia. End Summary.

First Visit by Chinese Head of State
--------------


2. (SBU) Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Monrovia,
Liberia for a one-day visit February 1. The visit was filled
with pomp and circumstance with Chinese and Liberian flags
decorating Monrovia's streets and a state dinner hosted by
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Chinese Embassy Political
Counselor Gou Hao Dong noted to Poloff February 26 that it
was the first visit of a Chinese head of state to Liberia
since diplomatic relations were established for the first
time between the two countries in 1977. Gou told Poloff that
Liberia was added to President Hu Jintao's February tour of
Africa after the Liberian President invited him to visit
during her November state visit to China followed by her
attendance at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (see Reftel
B). Gou said the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
provided logistical assistance to the Chinese Embassy for the
visit and expressed appreciation that the U.S-trained Armed
Forces of Liberia band was available to play at ceremonies
during the visit.


3. (SBU) Gou described the visit as "significant" and said
both the Liberian and Chinese governments were "satisfied"
with it and are committed to strengthening their bilateral
relationship. Gou said the Chinese-Liberian bilateral
relationship has had its "ups and downs", but the Chinese
Government is sure that after President Hu Jintao's visit
Liberia will not reconsider its one-China policy. Gou said
the Chinese Government was very concerned about security
during the visit. (FYI - In April 2006, former Speaker of the
House of Representatives Edwin Snowe wrote a letter to
Taiwan's diplomatic mission in the Gambia proposing
strengthening of relations between Liberia and Taiwan. He
was criticized by his legislative colleagues and the
executive and apologized for his action in July 2006. End
FYI.)

Deliverables
--------------


4. (SBU) The Chinese Political Counselor told Poloff that
several agreements were entered into between Liberia and
China during President Hu Jintao's visit. Gou stated that
China will provide US $1 million in cash to the Liberian
Government, which the Liberian Government will be free to
spend as it deems most appropriate. He said China will also
provide a US $10 million grant for rehabilitation of the
University of Liberia Fendell campus, which will be used for
faculty housing and fencing. (FYI - USAID is also providing
complementary funding for the rehabilitation of classrooms at
the Fendell campus.) Gou told Poloff China will set up an
anti-malaria treatment center in Monrovia's JFK Hospital, one
of fifteen that will be set up in Africa. He noted that,

MONROVIA 00000282 002.2 OF 002


while Presidents Johnson Sirleaf and Hu Jintao unveiled the
center February 1, it will not be up and running for another
two or three months. Gou said China will provide
anti-malarial medicine and technology and will bring Chinese
physicians to train and work with Liberian medical staff and
eventually turn over the running of the center to these
trained Liberians. Gou said the Chinese Government will
build 3 schools in rural Liberia as part of 50 such schools
to be built in Africa. He noted that China is working with
the Liberian Government to identify the sites for the
schools. Gou said that cultural exchanges will be
strengthened and that a "Confucius Center" will be opened in
Liberia. Gou said that such centers, which China is setting
up throughout the world and already exist in Egypt and Benin,
provide Chinese language instruction and sponsor cultural
performances and exchanges. Gou said the Chinese Government
has agreed to increase the number of scholarships provided to
Liberian students to study in China. He said the majority of
Liberian scholarship recipients to date have studied
"practical" subjects such as rice production, computers,
short-term medical training, and accounting. Gou stated that
China has agreed to cancel Liberia's matured debt up to the
end of 2005, which amounts to US $11 million.


5. (C) Gou said more Chinese government officials are likely
to visit Liberia, although no such visits are planned at this
time. He said a Ministerial visit is likely upon completion
of Monrovia's Samuel K. Doe Sports Stadium, which is being
rehabilitated by the Chinese Government. Gou told Poloff
that the building housing the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia,
for which the Chinese Government pays a monthly rent of US
$8,000, is owned by a daughter of former President Charles
Taylor and that the Chinese Government is concerned that
their rent is being used to benefit him.


6. (C) Deputy Minister of Foreign Relations for International
Cooperation and Economic Integration Conmany Wesseh told
Poloff February 2 that the Liberia Government wants to see
its friendship with China increase in order to consolidate
peace in Liberia and the region and that Liberia accomplished
what it wanted from the visit of President Hu Jintao. Wesseh
encouraged the U.S. to work with the Chinese Government in
Liberia. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for African
and Asian Affairs, Henry Fahnbulleh, told Poloff January 29
that the Liberian Government wants to attract Chinese foreign
investment. He said President Johnson Sirleaf has stated
that Liberia "does not need handouts" because they are only
short-term investments, but rather should seek long-term
investments from partners.


7. (C) Comment. Hu Jintao's visit was heavy on ceremony, but
thin on substance. Most of the visit's deliverables,
including the University of Liberia rehabilitation grant, the
building of rural schools, the increase in scholarships for
Liberian students, and the cancellation of Liberia's matured
debt up to the end of 2005, had already been announced after
President Johnson Sirleaf's November visit to China (see
Reftel B). Perhaps most significant is the fact that this is
probably the death-knell for any GOL flirtation with
recognizing Taiwan again. End Comment.


Booth