MONGOLIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OYUN VISITS CHINA MARCH

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