POTUS VISIT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PREPARATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003010 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2033 TAGS: PREL KOLY CH TW SUBJECT: POTUS VISIT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES PREPARATIONS WITH VFM ZHANG YESUI REF: BEIJING 2990 Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During an August 4 meeting with Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui (other topics reported septels),Ambassador Randt raised U.S. concerns over several outstanding issues regarding the President's upcoming visit to Beijing, leaving behind a non-paper (below). While thanking VFM Zhang for the progress that had been made this past weekend, the Ambassador noted that we nevertheless still require resolution of several issues, including credentials and tickets for certain members of the President's party and staff, as well as access by the White House Advance Team to the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound. The Ambassador reiterated our requests for full guest lists and seating charts for the events in which the President will participate, and he stressed the importance of being provided a sufficient number of vehicle access and parking passes (VAPPs) to support the President's movements in Beijing. ¶2. (C) VFM Zhang pledged to convey U.S. requests to BOCOG's "VIP reception center" as well as appropriate MFA protocol staff. President Hu Jintao and the Chinese Government attach great importance to President Bush's visit, VFM Zhang stated. In fact, China is providing the "most conveniences" and "exceptions" to President Bush's delegation, causing China to come under pressure and criticism for being unable to provide similar arrangements to other visiting dignitaries. VMF Zhang said he therefore hopes that, if China is unable to meet each and every U.S. requirement, that the U.S. side will "understand" and "appreciate China's difficulty" in receiving so many foreign VIPs during the Olympics. Regardless, the United States can trust China to do its "utmost" to meet U.S. requests, VFM Zhang asserted. ¶3. (SBU) Below is the list of "urgent outstanding issues" that the Ambassador raised with VFM Zhang and left as a non-paper: BEGIN NON-PAPER Urgent Outstanding Issues Regarding President Bush's Visit to China August 4, 2008 -- Credentials / Tickets: We now have 12 credentials for the President's family and close friends. But we stillrequire credentials/tickets for another 10 seior White House staff at various Olympic evens. In addition, 53 essential staff members and 76 United States Secret Service personnel requre all-access credentialing. 13 site officers need access to a specific venue only, many of whom will need to enter the sites in advance of the events. All of these personnel must be allowed to enter the sites to support the President and ensure his safety. All of these lists have already been submitted both to the MFA and BOCOG. -- Access to Venues: We have completed site surveys to all venues except for Zhongnanhai. We ask that you please arrange a site survey as soon as possible to this last remaining site. -- Guest Lists/Seating Charts: We still require guest lists/seating charts for the official events the President will participate in. As the President told Foreign Minister Yang at the White House on July 29, President Bush's attendance at the August 8 leaders luncheon hosted by President Hu is contingent upon his reviewing the guest list/seating chart. We would also like to know the seating and protocol arrangements at the Olympics opening ceremony. In addition, we have no information on Chinese participants for all the events on August 10 (President Hu bilat, President Hu lunch, Premier Wen meeting, Vice President Xi meeting). We have submitted U.S. participants lists for all events. -- VAPPs: We require sufficient Vehicle Access and Parking Passes (VAPPs) to Olympic venues, to facilitate not only the President's motorcades but also other transportation requirements in support of the President. We have reduced our VAPP request from 150 to 67. END NON-PAPER. RANDT