PRC: MFA BRIEFING ON UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002680 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018 TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO ECON EAID EAGR SENV KOLY MNUC KS, KN, KV, BU, ZI, SU, CH SUBJECT: PRC: MFA BRIEFING ON UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S VISIT Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling. Reason s 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged China to take a more active leadership role on global food security, climate change, and the Millennium Development Goals during a July 1-3 visit to Beijing. Chinese leaders told Ban that China strongly supports the UN's efforts on all these issues (and Premier Wen Jiabao will "seriously consider" attending the September 25 High Level Meeting on the MDGs) but is focused on its own development. The Chinese informed Ban that China's contingent of peacekeepers in Darfur will be fully deployed by mid-July, and that China has agreed to redeploy UNAMIS engineers now posted in South Sudan to UNAMID in Darfur to help ameliorate serious shortages of fresh water. Ban also discussed Zimbabwe (Chinese leaders counseled "time and patience" from the international community for Africa's efforts to solve the problems in Zimbabwe),Burma (China will continue to support the UN's "good offices" in Burma and Senior Advisor Ibrahim Gambari's mission),and Kosovo (China is open to a solution, so long as it is based on UNSCR 1244 and has Pristina's and Belgrade's concurrence). Extensive consultations on UN reform are necessary to achieve the "broadest possible consensus," the Chinese told Ban. End Summary. ¶2. (C) MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo briefed PolOff July 8 on the July 1-3 visit of UN Secretary General (UNSYG) Ban Ki-moon to Beijing. During his visit, Ban met Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Ban also spoke at Beijing's Foreign Affairs University, met Chinese entrepreneurs, visited Olympic sites and made an unpublicized visit to AIDS patients at a local hospital. China and the United Nations -------------- ¶3. (C) Sun said that Ban had praised China's "active and constructive" role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and in the international community. Ban specifically noted China's role in the Six Party Talks and China's development assistance to Africa. Ban also expressed his hope that China would take a larger role on international issues and specifically requested that China do more on climate change, food security and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The latter remarks were reported candidly in the state-controlled Chinese press. Chinese leaders praised Ban's work to date as UNSYG and told Ban that China firmly supports the UN's role and will always work in "a responsible and constructive manner" with the UN. Chinese leaders, however, asked Ban to understand China's limitations and preoccupation with pursuing its own development. Food Security -------------- ¶4. (C) Sun said that in his meetings Ban gave the most emphasis to three topics: food security, climate change and the MDGs. On food security, Premier Wen Jiabao stressed that China feeds 22 percent of the world's population with nine percent of the world's arable land and seven percent of the world's supply of fresh water. This achievement in itself is China's contribution to global food security. However, despite China's challenges in pursuing its own development, the Chinese Government still assists other nations, particularly in Africa, with direct food assistance and by sharing agricultural technology. Climate Change -------------- ¶5. (C) Sun said that Ban urged China to take more of a leadership role in addressing climate change. Chinese leaders responded to Ban that China is actively engaged in efforts to improve its environment and "fully supports the BEIJING 00002680 002 OF 003 Bali Roadmap based on the framework of sustainable development while maintaining the principle of common but differentiated responsibility for climate change and equal emphasis on mitigation and adaptation." China also stresses the important role of technological innovation and technological transfer in addressing the climate change issue. Millennium Development Goals -------------- ¶6. (C) Chinese leaders told Ban that China attaches great importance to the achievement of the MDGs and will continue to support fully the UN's leading role on this issue. Chinese leaders also noted the importance of "south-south cooperation" on achieving the MDGs. Premier Wen told Ban that because of China's many critical domestic issues he is reluctant to commit to attending the UNSYG's September 25 High Level Meeting to review progress on the MDGs. However, given the importance of the issue to the world and to China, Wen promised to "seriously consider" attending. UN Reform -------------- ¶7. (C) Sun said that Ban raised the importance of UN reform. Ban said he particularly hoped to reform the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department of Political Affairs and hoped for China's strong support in this effort. Ban acknowledged in meetings with Chinese counterparts that reform is "a process rather than a single event." Chinese leaders, Sun said, expressed support for efforts to make the UN more transparent, efficient and accountable. Ban said he supports reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) but acknowledged deep divisions among member states on the proper reforms. Ban pledged to coordinate with the UN General Assembly (UNGA) President to facilitate discussions of UNSC reform but said the issue is ultimately up to the member states. Sun said that Chinese leaders also expressed support for UNSC reform but China believes that extensive consultations are necessary to achieve the broadest possible consensus on this issue. Peacekeeping -------------- ¶8. (C) Sun said Ban expressed appreciation for China's providing peacekeepers around the world and recalled in meetings the many times he had encountered Chinese peacekeepers during his travels. Ban urged China to contribute even more to peacekeeping efforts, especially in Sudan. In response, Chinese leaders had informed Ban that China's contingent of peacekeepers in Darfur will be fully deployed by mid-July. China has also agreed to redeploy engineers now posted with UNAMIS in South Sudan to UNAMID in Darfur to help ameliorate serious shortages of fresh water. Zimbabwe -------------- ¶9. (C) Sun said that Ban had briefed Chinese leaders on his views on the situation in Zimbabwe and his proposal for a joint UN-African Union (AU) Special Envoy on Zimbabwe. Chinese leaders had responded that the international community should listen carefully to the views of African countries on the situation in Zimbabwe and work through the AU and the South African Development Conference (SADC). Sun said China's understanding is that the "latest AU declaration" appealed to the parties in the political conflict in Zimbabwe to settle their differences through dialogue and had urged outside countries to avoid actions that might "harm the environment for a solution." In sum, China counsels that the international community should give "time and patience" to Africa's efforts to solve the problems in Zimbabwe. Burma -------------- ¶10. (C) According to Sun, Ban told Chinese leaders that he is BEIJING 00002680 003 OF 003 "satisfied" with the Burmese Government's cooperation with relief efforts to the victims of Cyclone Nargis. According to Sun, Ban acknowledged that the World Food program now operates ten helicopters in Burma and that relief workers no longer face obstacles to their work. Ban said, however, that the UNSYG would like to see great cooperation from the Burmese Government on domestic political reform. Sun said that Chinese leaders told Ban that China will continue to support fully the UN's "good offices" in Burma and the work of Senior Advisor Ibrahim Gambari. However China's view is that political reform in Burma is chiefly the responsibility of the Burmese Government and the Burmese people. Thus, China hopes that the UNSYG and Gambari can forge a better relationship with the Burmese Government. Kosovo -------------- ¶11. (C) Sun said that Ban only briefly spoke about the latest "package" to resolve the situation in Kosovo. Chinese leaders had said that China is "completely open" to a resolution of the Kosovo problem on the basis of UNSC Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 and subject to the agreement of both Belgrade and Pristina. So far, Sun noted, there are still widely different views among Council members on Kosovo. Olympics -------------- ¶12. (C) Sun said that Ban had expressed his support for a successful Olympic Games and commended China's preparations for the Games. Six Party Talks -------------- ¶13. (C) Sun said that State Councilor Dai Bingguo had briefed Ban on the current progress in the Six Party Talks. Sun stressed that while Ban had offered the UN's help on the Six Party Talks, the Six Party process is completely separate from the UN and China had briefed Ban only because of Ban's "personal interest." One China Policy -------------- ¶14. (C) Sun said that Ban had reaffirmed the UN's "one China policy" during his visit. No Mention of Refugees -------------- ¶15. (C) Sun said that Ban did not mention UNHCR issues or refugees during his visit. RANDT