CHINA/RUSSIA: FM YANG'S VISIT TO MOSCOW REAFFIRMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001261

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ENRG EWWT EPET MARR CH RS AF
PK, IR, KN
SUBJECT: CHINA/RUSSIA: FM YANG'S VISIT TO MOSCOW REAFFIRMS
SHARED VIEWS ON AF/PAK, DPRK, IRAN

REF: A. BEIJING 895

B. BEIJING 625

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: China and Russia share a common interest in
a multi-polar world and "democratization of international
relations," but the China-Russia strategic partnership is
"not an alliance and not directed at a third country,"
according to an MFA official. The official said China and
Russia had made significant progress on energy cooperation,
stressing that unresolved details of the recently signed
"loan-for-oil" deal were "small and easy to resolve." FM
Yang Jiechi's April 26-27 visit to Moscow reaffirmed China
and Russia's "same or similar views" on Afghanistan and
Pakistan, North Korea, Iran and UN Security Council (UNSC)
reform. A Russian Embassy official said FM Yang's visit was
intended to pave the way for President Hu's June visit to
Russia. He noted that Russia had expanded its cultural
activities in China and planned to open the first Russian
culture center in Beijing. The two countries also planned a
range of activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of
the establishment of Russia-China relations, including an
October visit by Prime Minister Putin. End Summary.

China and Russia: A Common Interest in a Multi-Polar World
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2. (C) In a May 7 briefing on FM Yang Jiechi's April 26-27
visit to Moscow, MFA European and Central Asian Affairs
Department Russia Division Counselor Zhao Xiangrong told
PolOff that China and Russia shared a common interest in a
multi-polar world and "democratization of international
relations." The two countries also shared "the same or
similar view" on a number of international issues, including
North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, UN Security Council reform
and the Middle East peace process. The China-Russia
strategic partnership was "not an alliance and not directed
at a third country." Zhao underscored the importance of
relations with the United States, noting that the development
of China-U.S. relations and U.S.-Russia relations was
conducive to world peace and security.

Energy Cooperation
--------------


3. (C) Zhao said China and Russia had made significant
progress on energy cooperation over the last year, noting
that construction on an oil pipeline from eastern Siberia to
China had already begun and that construction on the Chinese
side of the border would soon commence. While acknowledging
the two sides were "still studying" unresolved commercial
details of the recently signed "loans-for-oil" deal, Zhao
stressed that the problems were "small and easy to resolve."

Af/Pak, DPRK, Iran
--------------


4. (C) Zhao said that China and Russia had agreed that
curbing the spread of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan
served the interests of all parties involved. China hoped
the elections in Afghanistan would proceed smoothly and
result in a government that represented the Afghan people.
Regarding the DPRK, Zhao said the UNSC should not take any
new actions that could heighten tensions on the Korean
Peninsula. China and Russia would work together to urge all
parties to remain calm and resume Six-Party Talks. Zhao
stated that China and Russia agreed that the Iranian nuclear
issue should be resolved through diplomacy and negotiation
within the P5-plus-1 framework.

UNSC Reform
--------------


5. (C) According to Zhao, China and Russia agreed that UNSC
reform was a long-term process that aimed to "reach the most
extensive consensus" and increase the effectiveness of the
UNSC. She cautioned against "blindly accelerating
negotiations."


BEIJING 00001261 002 OF 002


Russian View of FM Yang Visit
--------------


6. (C) Russian EmbOff Denis Agafonov (protect) told PolOff
May 6 that the purpose of FM Yang's visit to Moscow was to
prepare for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit and
Russia-China bilateral summit meeting between President
Medvedev and President Hu scheduled consecutively for June in
Yekaterinburg. He said the Medvedev-Hu meetings would focus
on the global economic crisis and energy cooperation, noting
that Russia hoped to broaden the bilateral relationship
beyond raw materials and natural resources to include more
high-tech, manufactured goods. Agafonov said the two leaders
would exchange views on security issues, such as the DPRK and
Afghanistan/Pakistan, as well as cultural cooperation under
the framework of the "Year of Russian Language" in China and
"Year of Chinese Language" in Russia.

Putin Visit to China in October
--------------


7. (C) According to Agafonov, Prime Minister Putin would
visit China in October to mark the 60th anniversary of
diplomatic relations. MFA's Zhao said China and Russia had
planned a wide range of activities as part of their year-long
celebration of the anniversary and the "Year of Russian
Language" in China.

Russia to Establish Russian Culture Center in Beijing
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Agafonov acknowledged that Russia's language and
culture were not attractive to most young Chinese but
insisted that the situation was improving. As an example of
progress over the last 10 years, he cited a 1999 letter to
the Russian Ambassador to China from a Chinese student who
had complained of learning Russian in university and not
being be able to find a job using her Russian-language
skills. Agafonov said more Chinese students were now
studying Russian than 10 years ago and that interest in
studying Russian would continue to grow as bilateral trade
expanded. Russia was devoting more attention to cultural and
educational programs, including sponsoring more than 260
cultural exchange activities as part of the "Year of Russian
Language" in China. To provide Chinese more information on
Russia, the Russian Embassy planned to open its first Russian
culture center in Beijing in 2009, although details on the
center's location and activities needed to be worked out.
PICCUTA