BIO REPORTING ON JIANGSU GOVERNOR LIANG AND AUDITOR LI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SHANGHAI 000550 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, INR/B AND INR/EAP TREAS FOR OASIA - CUSHMAN USDOC FOR ITA/MAC - A/DAS MCQUEEN NSC FOR WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/30/2032 TAGS: PINR PGOV CH SUBJECT: BIO REPORTING ON JIANGSU GOVERNOR LIANG AND AUDITOR LI REF: SHANGHAI 547 SHANGHAI 00000550 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Simon Schuchat, Deputy Principal Officer, U.S. Embassy, Beijing, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During an August 26 dinner in honor of Comptroller General of the United States David Walker, head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO),Walker met with Jiangsu Governor Liang Baohua, accompanied by Auditor General of the National Auditing Administration Li Jinhua. Liang and Li made few substantive remarks, but gave participants insight into their personalities (see Reftel for a substantive readout of GAO Walker's visit). The following cable provides biographic information on Liang and Li and observations about their personalities. Liang came across as pleasant, although unable to sit still. While he apparently knew the basics of the U.S. political system, he lacked a more in-depth understanding. Liang also appeared to share a genuine friendship with Li. Li came across as reserved and concerned with portraying a clean image. Although Li is likely to retire in 2008, Walker believed he would continue to have influence within the Chinese political system. End summary. -------------- Liang: Friendly but Fidgety -------------- ¶2. (C) During the August 26 event, Liang came across as a friendly interlocutor, albeit somewhat uncomfortable. During the meeting preceding the dinner, Liang was constantly smiling--sometimes in an almost pained manner--and was unable to keep still; constantly moving in his seat, fidgeting, or twiddling his fingers. Liang appeared easily distracted and kept looking around the room at other people, particularly when waiting for translation. Liang gave no indication that he spoke or understood English. Li noted that Liang frequently worked weekends. ¶3. (C) Liang did not eat the abalone with mushrooms during the meal, opting instead for what appeared to be pumpkin soup. He also eschewed the fruit platter at the end of dinner for a plate of cherry tomatoes. It is unclear if this was related to health concerns or personal preferences. -------------- -------------- Liang's Understanding of the U.S. Political System a Bit Lacking -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) During dinner, Liang and Walker discussed the differences between the Chinese and U.S. political systems. Liang opined that governors in the United States were more focused on politics because they were elected. He contrasted that with Chinese governors who focused more on economic development and people's livelihoods. Liang said that in China, governors' main responsibilities were to implement central government directives. He said he understood that the link between the federal and state governments in the United States was much weaker, which Walker explained was by design. Liang elucidated that in China, provincial governments were chosen by the local People's Congress, not the National People's Congress (NPC). ¶5. (C) While Liang understood the separation between state and federal government, he had apparently never given much thought to the relationships at local levels of government in the United States. Liang asserted that in the United States, the governors were assisted in their work by the municipal mayors. He seemed both amused and surprised when Walker explained that, in fact, mayors did not work for or answer to the governors, but to their local constituents who elected them. -------------- A Special Relationship With Li Jinhua -------------- ¶6. (C) Liang appeared to have more than a working-level relationship with Li. Both men seemed very at ease with each other, laughing, joking, and carrying on private conversations in hushed tones throughout the dinner; Li was seated to Liang's immediate left. Their interaction and mannerisms suggested that they were old friends. Both Liang and Li came up through the ranks in Jiangsu Province. SHANGHAI 00000550 002.2 OF 002 -------------- Li Jinhua: Maintaining a Clean Image -------------- ¶7. (C) Li appeared concerned with maintaining his public clean image. He made a point to say that he was taking the train-- a 12 hour ride--back to Beijing as opposed to flying. Also, during an August 25 dinner in Suzhou with the municipal mayor, Li ordered the press photographers to refrain from taking photos, apparently not wanting to be seen in the papers being wined and dined by local officials. Li came across as reserved and aloof. According to the Embassy interpreter, Li did not speak English much beyond "thank you." Walker added that Li understood a little more English than he spoke. Li is married. ¶8. (C) According to Walker, who has met with Li on several occasions throughout his career, Li was originally appointed to his position by former Premier Zhu Rongji. However, due to his age, he would likely be retiring at the spring 2008 People's Congress. Walker believed that Li would remain influential after his retirement from the Audit Administration, and would likely take up a position in the NPC. Li had been largely responsible for taking the Audit Administration and transforming it from a bureaucratically insignificant organ into a powerful entity. Li had also gone out of his way to tell Walker that he was an advocate for greater democratization of the Chinese political system. (Note: No further information was available regarding Li's views on democracy. End note.) ¶9. (U) The Comptroller General's delegation did not have the opportunity to clear this report before leaving Shanghai. JARRETT