PRC/SUDAN: MFA DG CALLS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001389

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF EAID PHUM SOCI KDEM CH SU
SUBJECT: PRC/SUDAN: MFA DG CALLS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION
THE TOP PRIORITY

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


1. (C) Summary: MFA DG for West Asia and North Africa Song
Aiguo told Special Envoy for Sudan General Scott Gration May
25 that China sought "comprehensive" ties with Sudan by
developing links with authorities in the south but
maintaining strong relations with Khartoum. Song urged the
international community to work with the central Sudanese
government to achieve stability and economic development and
described national reconciliation as the top priority. Song
outlined Chinese contributions to Sudan in the economic and
commercial sphere and as related to the hybrid peace-keeping
force. He asserted that lack of development was the "root
cause" of the conflict in Darfur, adding that China's Special
Representative on Darfur would announce a new package of
assistance when he traveled to Sudan after the upcoming Doha
conference. Calling the basic objectives of the U.S. and
China in Sudan "similar," Song said that China wanted Sudan
to remain united, and he outlined areas for increased
U.S.-China coordination on Sudan issues. End summary.


2. (C) Special Envoy for Sudan General Scott Gration on May
25 described for MFA West Asian and North African Affairs
Department Director General Song Aiguo U.S concerns over
possible increased instability in Sudan and the need for the
international community to take preventative measures before
it was too late. Gration told Song that China and the United
States needed to work together to maintain stability in
Sudan, and he sought ideas from the Chinese side on how the
international community could increase its contribution to
the situation in Sudan. He noted that U.S.-China
coordination on Sudan did not need to be in the public
sphere. SE Gration said that China was a major power in the
world and enjoyed strong influence in Sudan owing to its
strong bilateral relationship and economic cooperation.
Gration also invited China to send a delegation to the
scheduled U.S.-hosted talks on renewing international support
for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Washington DC
on June 23.

China Seeks "Comprehensive" Relations with Sudan
-------------- ---


3. (C) Song replied that U.S.-China coordination on Sudan
demonstrated that the two countries had many areas of common
interest. He claimed that Chinese engagement with the
government in Khartoum proceeded on the basis of "equality
and mutual respect," and while China engaged primarily with
the Bashir government, it also sought "comprehensive"
relations with Sudan by maintaining good relations with
authorities in the south as well. Song stressed the
importance of Sudan for security and stability in the greater
region.

Development is the Number One Issue Facing Sudan
-------------- ---


4. (C) In addition to political relations, Song said that
China sought positive economic and commercial relations with
Sudan, particularly in the energy sector, based on the
principle of "mutual benefit and common development." He
pointed to increasing trade relations ($8.2 billion in 2008,
according to Liu),Chinese assistance to infrastructure
development, and agricultural cooperation as additional areas
where China was making a contribution. He claimed t*A|:WtQ2~m=+PVg
deployment of Chinese engineers with the hybrid peacekeeping
force and as well as through efforts to "improve the
conditions for future deployments." China supported
Khartoum's efforts to improve humanitarian conditions in
Darfur and conditions for the provision of aid in the region.
China contributed funding to humanitarian assistance efforts

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and encouraged others in the international community to do
so, Song said.

Priorities for Engagement
--------------


6. (C) Turning to the priorities for the international
community's engagement with Sudan, Song said that "job number
one" in Sudan was to bring about national reconciliation
through confidence-building efforts. To this end, China
hoped to maintain good relations with major parties to try to
bring them together. Song stressed the importance of
economic development, adding that lack of development was the
"root cause" of the Darfur issue. The international
community had to make sustained efforts to provide
humanitarian assistance. China's Special Representative on
Darfur Liu Guijin would visit Sudan after the upcoming Doha
conference, where he would announce a new package of Chinese
assistance, according to Song.


7. (C) The international community also had to try to ensure
the smooth deployment of the hybrid force, Song said, adding
that progress on PKOs was generally on track, with many
troops already deployed. The international community should
assist the Sudanese government in bringing about suitable
conditions for future deployment.

International Community Must Work with Bashir Government
-------------- --------------


8. (C) Song stressed the importance of the international
community maintaining good relations with the Bashir
government, noting that the current regime had achieved some
positive accomplishments, including bringing about an end to
the 22-year civil war and signing the CPA for southern Sudan.
He noted that when the deployment of the hybrid force had
reached a stalemate in 2007, the government in Khartoum paved
the way for a solution. Acknowledging the challenges of
working with Khartoum, Song said that the international
community "needs a government there to talk to," adding that
the regime was the choice of the Sudanese people. Song
reported good progress on major Chinese development projects
that resulted from cooperation with Khartoum. He claimed
that the government's reaction to strong international
pressure had shown great restraint and said the goal of the
international community should be to convince Khartoum to "do
a better job" on Darfur and southern Sudan.

U.S.-China Coordination
--------------


9. (C) Turning to areas for U.S.-China coordination on Sudan,
Song said that China appreciated the efforts of the United
States in Sudan, noting that we had maintained good relations
with rebel groups as well as the central government. He
noted SE Gration's hard work and success in convincing
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim to
travel to Doha for the last round of peace talks. Calling
the basic objectives of the U.S. and China in Sudan
"similar," Song said that China hoped to see Sudan remain
united. Song reported that China would send Special
Representative Liu to the upcoming Doha meeting to
demonstrate Chinese support for the process. He said the
potential for economic development in southern Sudan was
enormous given its natural resources. The neighboring
countries were important for Sudan's stability, and both the
U.S. and China enjoyed good relations with those countries.
Song said that countries in the region had expressed to the
Chinese their strong concerns about a possible bifurcation of
Sudan, which they saw as not in their interest.
WEINSTEIN