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 -------------- -------------- ¶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