Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING1120
2009-04-27 06:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

U.S. UNVIE AMBASSADOR SCHULTE AND PRC DG CHENG

Tags:  PARM PREL MNUC IAEA CH IR NK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9406
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1120/01 1170622
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270622Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3668
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1387
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001120 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM, ISN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IAEA CH IR NK
SUBJECT: U.S. UNVIE AMBASSADOR SCHULTE AND PRC DG CHENG
DISCUSS FUEL ISSUES, IAEA REFORM, NORTH KOREA AND IRAN

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001120

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM, ISN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2034
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC IAEA CH IR NK
SUBJECT: U.S. UNVIE AMBASSADOR SCHULTE AND PRC DG CHENG
DISCUSS FUEL ISSUES, IAEA REFORM, NORTH KOREA AND IRAN

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In Beijing to represent Energy Secretary Chu at the
April 20-24 International Nuclear Energy Ministerial, U.S.
Ambassador to UNVIE Greg Schulte met with MFA Arms Control
and Disarmament Department Director General Cheng Jingye on
April 22. Ambassador Schulte complimented DG Cheng for
China's role in sponsoring a successful Ministerial. On
nuclear fuel assurance issues, DG Cheng said China was
"open-minded" about fuel bank proposals, stressing that the
positive aspects of a dependable and "impartial" nuclear fuel
supply source should be emphasized with developing countries.
China was open to "balanced and justified" International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) budget increases, Cheng said, but
played coy when asked to indicate who China would support in
the upcoming election for IAEA Director General. On North
Korea, Cheng said China saw the United States playing the
central role in "de-escalating" the situation and bringing
North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks after a "cool down
period." Underscoring the fact that the United States wanted
the Chinese to use its influence to prod Iran to agree to the
recent E3-plus-3 overture, Cheng said China was "cautiously
optimistic" on Iran. Finally, Cheng agreed "we should find a
way" to resolve Kazakhstan's inability to find a welcoming
regional grouping within the IAEA. End Summary.

ENERGY MINISTERIAL
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador Schulte complimented Cheng for China's role
in holding the Nuclear Energy Ministerial. Noting that
participation was greatly improved since the last Ministerial
held in Paris, Schulte said it reflected the growing
worldwide interest in nuclear power. The message he
delivered on behalf of Secretary Chu to the Ministerial,
Schulte said, was threefold: the new U.S. administration
believed nuclear energy was important; it was critical to

secure global collaboration in the Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership (GNEP); and the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) played an important role in the process.

GNEP AND FUEL ASSURANCE ISSUES
--------------


3. (C) Cheng commented that, of the dozens of ideas "out
there" on nuclear fuel cycle issues, the U.S.-sponsored GNEP
"is the only one China had decided to be a part of." In
response to Cheng's question about the U.S. policy review of
GNEP, Schulte noted that the U.S. Department of Energy was
holding an internal, science-based review of options for the
GNEP steering group, including how to best structure the
international fuel cycle and related internal working groups.
Secretary Chu had been briefed on China's involvement and
support in the GNEP, Schulte remarked.


4. (C) Raising fuel assurance issues, Schulte cited President
Obama's remarks about fuel banks being an important tool to
promote nonproliferation and to prevent the spread of
enrichment technologies by providing a reliable fuel source
to developing countries. Schulte said the U.S. hoped there
would be a "good discussion" of fuel bank and other proposals
at the June IAEA Board of Governors meeting. Cheng replied
that China was "open-minded" about these ideas. To overcome
the widespread impression evinced in previous discussions
that interested countries would have to forgo their rights,
Cheng suggested the emphasis at the June meeting should be
placed on the benefits, encouraging nations to support fuel
banks and not develop their own facilities or capabilities.


5. (C) Cheng said China supported IAEA Director General El
Baradei's approach on fuel assurance issues, including the
need to ensure the "impartiality" of an international fuel
supply. Schulte was pleased to hear of China's support,
saying China's views "carry a lot of weight in the IAEA."

IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL ELECTION
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador Schulte noted the recent stalemate in the
election a new IAEA Director General, and after running
through the list of potential candidates asked Cheng for
China's views. Cheng played coy, only noting China had been
approached by several countries asking for support for
particular candidates. Schulte stressed that the United
States sought a good leader with substantial management

BEIJING 00001120 002 OF 002


skills and a strong nuclear background.

IAEA BUDGET
--------------


7. (C) Turning to the IAEA budget, Schulte said the United
States would be seeking to ensure the IAEA "had the resources
it needed" and hoped countries wouldn't seek to do "business
as usual." Cheng replied that China could support "justified
and balanced" increases in the budget. Schulte noted the
United States sought to make nuclear security a "core
function" of the IAEA rather than one funded on an ad hoc
basis.

NORTH KOREA AND IRAN
--------------


8. (C) Schulte raised the likelihood of discussions on North
Korea and Iran at the June IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
Saying he "hoped there wouldn't be too much discussion of
North Korea," Cheng suggested it was largely up to the United
States to "de-escalate" the current situation and bring North
Korea back to the Six-Party Talks after a "cool-down" period.



9. (C) Schulte noted China's important role in getting Iran
to agree to the recent E3-plus-3 overture. Cheng replied
China was "cautiously optimistic" on Iran, but would need to
"wait and see" how things went.

KAZAKHSTAN IAEA ROLE
--------------


10. (C) Schulte noted Kazakhstan's ongoing difficulty finding
a welcoming regional grouping within the IAEA and how that
prevented Kazakhstan from gaining a seat on the Board of
Governors. Asked whether China might agree to Kazakhstan
being a part of the East Asia grouping with China, Cheng
would only say that China agreed "we should find a way out"
of the current situation.
PICCUTA