MONGOLIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OYUN VISITS CHINA MARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 001294

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL CH MG
SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OYUN VISITS CHINA MARCH
24-28

Classified By: Political Regional Unit Chief Mark Tesone. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).

Summary
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1. (C) Mongolian Foreign Minster Sanjaasuren Oyun's March
24-28 visit to China resulted in PRC assent to open a
Mongolian consulate in Shanghai, transfer prisoners from
southern China to Inner Mongolia and support Mongolia's
inclusion in APEC. FM Oyun also sought China's support for
Mongolia's inclusion in a future Northeast Asia Peace and
Security Mechanism (NEAPSM) and expressed interest in
participating in economic and investment agreements reached
under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization framework. Both
sides discussed strengthening transportation links and
Mongolia's decision to decline a Chinese loan to build a
hydroelectric power plant. FM Oyun invited Premier Wen
Jiabao to visit Mongolia. End Summary.


2. (U) Chinese MFA and Mongolian Embassy officials both
provided positive readouts of Mongolian Foreign Minister
Sanjaasuren Oyun's March 24-28 visit to China. While in
Beijing, FM Oyun met PRC Vice President Xi Jinping, State
Councilor Dai Bingguo and FM Yang Jiechi. She also traveled
to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.


3. (C) Describing China-Mongolia relations as "very good,"
MFA Asian Department DPRK, ROK and Mongolia Division Third
Secretary Zhang Yishi told PolOff on April 3 that FM Oyun's

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visit focused on four issues: 1) strengthening economic ties;
2) increasing cooperation on educational, cultural and
environmental issues; 3) supporting Mongolia's participation
in regional forums; and 4) increasing the frequency of
high-level exchanges.


4. (C) According to Zhang, China agreed to consider FM Oyun's
proposal to increase the volume of train traffic on the
Ulaanbaatar-Beijing rail line, and both sides discussed
improving bilateral road links. When Oyun said Mongolia had
decided to decline a Chinese loan to build a hydroelectric
power plant for environmental reasons, Chinese officials
expressed understanding for the decision and promised to work
with Ulaanbaatar to find another use for the loan. FM Oyun
sought China's support for Mongolia's inclusion in APEC and a
future Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism (NEAPSM),
and conveyed interest in participating in economic and
investment agreements reached under the framework of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Chinese officials
expressed support for Mongolia's participation in APEC and
the SCO agreements, and told FM Oyun that China supports
Mongolia's participation in NEAPSM if the other participating
countries also agree, Zhang reported.


5. (C) Mongolian Embassy Minister Counselor Tsedev
Buyanbadrakh told us separately that China approved
Mongolia's request to open a consulate in Shanghai during FM
Oyun's visit. Oyun also pressed for consulates in Urumqi and
Macao, Buyanbadrakh noted. FM Oyun obtained agreement from
her Chinese counterparts to transfer Mongolian prisoners in
outhern China to prisons in the Inner Mongolia Atonomous
Region so that they could be "closerto family, better food
and a more familiar clmate." China and Mongolia agreed in
principle to a repatriation agreement, although details have
yet to be discussed, Buyanbadrakh said. Zhang told us the
transfer agreement would affect "very few" prisoners, while
the repatriation agreement would apply only to one Mongolian
citizen. Future repatriation requests would be decided on a
case-by-case basis, he said.


6. (C) Zhang said President Hu Jintao plans to discuss
"issues of bilateral cooperation" when he meets Mongolian
President Nambaryn Enkhbayar on the margins of the April
11-13 Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan. FM Oyun invited Premier
Wen Jiabao to visit Mongolia, Buyanbadrakh said, but
speculates VP Xi Jinping will travel in place of Wen. Zhang
said any plans for Premier Wen's travel to Mongolia will
depend on his schedule.
RANDT