U/S HUGHES URGES INCREASED EXCHANGES, MEDIA

UNCLAS SECTION 02OF 03 EIJING 000483 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL PHUM KOLY KPAO KIRF CH SUBJECT: U/S HUGHES URGES INCREASED EXCHANGES, MEDIA OPENNESS IN BEIJING VISITS AND MEETINGS *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** BEIJING 01220483 002 OF 003 exchanges to further strengthen ties. ¶5. (SBU) State Councilor Chen cited the importance of the bilateral relationship for China and stated that successful and ongoing top-level exchanges between the leaders of the two countries have laid the foundation for constructive, cooperative strategic bilateral relations for the 21st century. China is working hard to prepare for hosting a top tier Olympic Games, including hosting more than 10,000 journalists. In addition to the new regulations on foreign journalists, China is committed to providing journalists with excellent facilities and service, in keeping with its commitments and international standards. China will try to show its achievements and spirit, but won't color its difficulties, State Councilor Chen said. China remains a developing country, it is natural that it has some problems, and China hopes that foreign journalists will understand this. ¶6. (SBU) Chen said China hoped to emulate successful U.S. efforts to popularize sport for all its citizens and agreed with U/S Hughes that continued educational exchanges between the two countries are very important. The United States remains the number one destination for Chinese students, Chen noted, and China is happy to welcome more American students to study in China. SCIO's Cai on Media Freedoms -------------- ¶7. (SBU) U/S Hughes, accompanied by PD Envoy Kwan, complimented SCIO Director Cai Wu on the recently implemented rules that loosen restrictions on foreign journalists and urged China to extend them beyond the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. U/S Hughes noted that increasing freedom of the press in China will help Americans and Chinese alike to better understand China's role in the world, including, for example, China's active partnership with the United States on difficult issues like nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran. Pointing out that the United States and China share so many interests, like being the number one and number two energy users in the world, U/S Hughes stressed the need for increased transparency between the two governments, even in areas where we do not agree. Commenting that she had just visited a Chinese school where students recited part of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, U/S Hughes emphasized that a free press can highlight social problems, such as those in Dr. King's speech, and bring about positive change. ¶8. (SBU) Minister Cai responded that the revised media rules indicate a new open-mindedness in welcoming the world to China and have been smoothly implemented for the past twenty days. Admitting that prior Chinese policies could be viewed as "regulating" foreign journalists, Cai argued the new view is to provide "good service" to journalists. If the revised regulations promote better understanding of China and facilitate China's reform and stability, they could be extended beyond the expiration date of October 17, 2008, said Minister Cai. In fact, Beijing is currently putting on a conference with officials from various municipalities and provinces to discuss how to implement the revised rules, provide better service to journalists and ensure better cooperation with international media. When pressed about the expiry of the relaxed rules in October 2008, Cai responded that if the revised rules promote understanding, encourage honest reporting and facilitate China's reform and stability, "why would we change them?" ¶9. (SBU) Chinese recognize that China is not perfect, said Cai, voicing his opinion that Chinese society is currently at a stage of more frequent internal conflict. Shielding internal strife from foreign journalists will not make it go away, but Cai said he hoped journalists would not only report China's problems, but also China's unremitting efforts to solve them. If reporting is objective and truthful, then China is not worried that foreign journalists will observe and report on social problems in China, according to Cai. Cai complained about those who write negatively about China without having ever visited, citing in particular a BBC report alleging that Chinese government hospitals harvested organs *********************** * Missing Section 003 * ***********************