Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08FREETOWN456
2008-09-12 13:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SIERRA LEONE SINGS SAME

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR CH SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0456/01 2561307
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121307Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2194
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000456 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR CH SL
SUBJECT: NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SIERRA LEONE SINGS SAME
OLD SONG

REF: A. FREETOWN 147

B. FREETOWN 208

C. FREETOWN 350

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador June Carter Perry
for reasons 1.4(b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000456

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR CH SL
SUBJECT: NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SIERRA LEONE SINGS SAME
OLD SONG

REF: A. FREETOWN 147

B. FREETOWN 208

C. FREETOWN 350

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador June Carter Perry
for reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Perry met with the new Chinese
Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Qui Shaofang, on September 10,

2008. The discussion centered on areas of mutual interest and
concern in terms of bilateral relations with the Government
of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and development issues and
opportunities. Ambassador Shaofang is optimistic that the
Koroma administration will bring positive change to Sierra
Leone, and stated his government's intention to continue
providing support with infrastructure and agricultural
projects. Ambassador Shaofang's comments exactly parrot those
of his predecessor, which supported development ideas in
rhetorical principle and belied actions that were clearly in
their own national and commercial interests. While Ambassador
Shaofang noted the increased cooperation and communication
between our respective governments, it appears unlikely at
this point that his diplomatic angle will include greater
transparency regarding Chinese priorities and interests in
Sierra Leone. End Summary.


2. (U) Ambassador Qui Shaofang, China's new envoy to Sierra
Leone, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Perry on September

10. Ambassador Shaofang's most recent posting was in Sydney,
Australia, but he also held positions at the Chinese
Consulates in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago (Note: As
reported in reftel C, this is Shaofang's first tour in the
developing world. End note.). Ambassador Shaofang made
special mention of the new American Embassy in Beijing, and
the nearly completed Chinese Embassy in Washington,
identifying them as a symbol of increased closeness between
our two countries.


3. (U) Ambassador Shaofang has been in Sierra Leone for a
month, and intends to embark on a countrywide tour to fully
assess political, economic, and social conditions. He stated
the need for advanced countries to assist those that are
underdeveloped, and outlined several of China's assistance
initiatives, including training demonstrations on rice

cultivation in Bo, increased assistance to the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization, and plans for constructing
a new office building for parliamentarians. These projects
supplement those outlined previously in reftels A and B.


4. (U) Ambassador Perry briefed Shaofang on current U.S.
Government initiatives, including democracy development and
support for human rights, women's rights, and education. She
also expressed interest in increased involvement in the
health and agricultural sectors. Ambassador Perry encouraged
China to focus on job creation and capacity-building as part
of their development model, to ensure that the large number
of unemployed youths in the country benefit from the
opportunities provided, for example, by Chinese construction
projects. Both agreed that stability in Sierra Leone is
dependent on the government's ability to address the
employment gap, develop reliable water and energy supplies,
and attract private investment. Ambassador Shaofang, like his
predecessor, sees hope for Sierra Leone thanks to President
Koroma's strong and progressive administration.


5. (C) Ambassador Shaofang paid highly publicized visits to
several of the major cities outside of Freetown over the past
month, announcing new projects and donations. This is similar
to former Ambassador Wenju's goodwill tour mentioned in
reftel A, which was likely designed, in part, to allay
growing anti-Chinese sentiment. While Sierra Leoneans tend to
focus on the Lebanese community as the primary exploitative
foreign presence, the Chinese are seen by many in the
population to be opportunistic profiteers, promising
small-scale development projects or gifts to the GoSL in
return for favorable mining concessions and a blind-eye to
illegal activities. This view is not unfounded; for example,
a private deal between the Chinese and Ministry of Defense
resulted in the donation of planes and small boats for
maritime surveillance that cannot be used to target illegal
Chinese fishing vessels (the donated boat is only useful on
rivers, for example). Ambassador Shaofang's recent tour, as
well as the more extensive tour he intends to conduct in the
near future, is likely a deliberate media ploy to distract
the population from the negative associations attached to the
Chinese presence here.


5. (C) Comment: In this courtesy call setting, Ambassador
Shaofang did not discuss substantive issues or plans, instead
highlighting his intent to communicate regularly with the

FREETOWN 00000456 002 OF 002


U.S. Mission and his hopes for Sierra Leone's future. Post
maintains a cordial relationship with the Chinese mission in
Sierra Leone, which is unlikely to change based on this
initial meeting. Despite the cordiality, however, and the
regular Chinese presence at international diplomatic
community meetings and functions, very little is known about
their long-term agenda and bilateral relationship with Sierra
Leone. Given that his comments were remarkably similar to
those provided by the former Ambassador in various settings,
it appears that Shaofang is following an established
party-line with regards to communications with the diplomatic
community and will provide only superficial information about
their dealings here. End Comment.
PERRY