CHINA/AFRICA: A/S FRAZER AND EVFM WANG GUANGYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003942 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF, S/E WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC CH SU SO CG SUBJECT: CHINA/AFRICA: A/S FRAZER AND EVFM WANG GUANGYA DISCUSS BILATERAL COOPERATION, SUDAN AND SOMALIA Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: China is open to greater cooperation with the United States in assisting Africa, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya told Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer October 15. China agrees with the United States on the need for UN Security Council (UNSC) action on Somalia. China is concerned about the impact of the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of Sudanese President Bashir on the situation in Darfur and urged U.S. support for a suspension of the ICC indictment. End Summary. U.S.-Chinese Cooperation in Africa -------------- ¶2. (C) EVFM Wang began by expressing satisfaction with the previous day's U.S.-China Regional Sub-dialogue on Africa and hope for the continuation of the dialogue. He said the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organizations in Africa have contributed to the overall positive trend in Africa's development, but the organizations need help from the United States, China and Europe. However, he stressed the importance of respecting AU decisions and allowing the Africans themselves to keep ownership of African issues. EVFM Wang said China's assistance to Africa is growing but still small compared to U.S. and European aid. He also stressed that China does not have a hidden agenda in Africa, is transparent and is open to cooperation with other countries, including the United States. ¶3. (C) A/S Frazer agreed with the positive assessment of the U.S.-China Regional Sub-dialogue on Africa and on the need for greater cooperation with China in Africa. She expressed support for Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun's suggestion during the October 14 discussions to pursue greater cooperation with the United States in Liberia, Ghana and Ethiopia in the fields of health and agriculture. A/S Frazer said she will encourage U.S. Ambassadors in those three countries to meet with their Chinese counterparts to find concrete ways to cooperate. She also suggested greater coordination between U.S. and Chinese Ambassadors in the Democratic Republic of Congo on security sector reform. Somalia -------------- ¶4. (C) A/S Frazer expressed U.S. support for a UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia and urged China to join the United States in pushing the UNSC to act. EVFM Wang agreed with the need for UNSC action, arguing that the P5 members of the UNSC need to work together to show Africa that "peace in Somalia is as important as peace in other countries." Commenting on what he sees as "a positive change in the U.S. attitude" on Somalia, EVFM Wang said the United States needs to "show political will" to help Africa establish peace and security. A/S Frazer responded that the United States has already spent USD 57 million to train and equip Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers in Somalia and is prepared to do more. She added that Nigeria is also willing to send peacekeepers to Somalia. Sudan -------------- ¶5. (C) EVFM Wang expressed support for an Article 16 suspension of the ICC indictment of Sudanese President Bashir and warned of serious consequences for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) if the indictment process is not handled properly. He blamed the ICC indictment for emboldening the rebel groups and for jeopardizing the peace process, arguing that peace in Darfur must be achieved before "looking at other issues." A/S Frazer agreed with the need for progress on the peace, humanitarian, and peacekeeping tracks but stressed the need to see progress on the ground in Darfur before considering a suspension of the ICC indictment. She said Secretary Rice told Sudanese Vice President Taha during the September UN General Assembly gathering that the United States is not a party to the ICC and did not encourage the ICC prosecutor to pursue the case against President Bashir but that it is premature to consider an Article 16 suspension of the indictment. A/S Frazer also pointed out that the United States has heard from some ICC members that the ICC lower court is unlikely to make a decision before the end of this year. BEIJING 00003942 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) A/S Frazer stressed the need for more peacekeeping troops on the ground in Darfur by the end of the year, adding that the United States is prepared to airlift Ethiopian and Rwandan troops into Darfur as well as equipment stuck at port in Ethiopia. She also said the United States will continue to put pressure on rebel groups to cooperate. ¶7. (U) A/S Frazer cleared this cable. PICCUTA