CODEL PELOSI MAY 27 MEETING WITH PRC PRESIDENT HU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 001428 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2034 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PARM MNUC PBTS PTER PGOV CH KN SUBJECT: CODEL PELOSI MAY 27 MEETING WITH PRC PRESIDENT HU JINTAO Classified By: Political Officer Dan Kritenbrink. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 27 meeting with CODEL Pelosi, Chinese President Hu Jintao noted that China hoped that the developed world would take the lead on climate change by providing financial assistance and technical support to developing countries but admitted the developing countries had a responsibility to take a positive stance on sustainable development. Hu expressed hope that the United States and China would enhance cooperation in energy conservation, clean energy and other areas and promised to work with the international community to make the Copenhagen climate change meeting a success. Speaker Pelosi told Hu that, to fight climate change effectively, China would have to become more open, more transparent and more willing to provide environmental justice to citizens. Noting that human rights is an important issue in our relationship, she expressed hope that China would become more open. Hu told the Speaker that China had expressed its serious concerns over the DRPK's nuclear test and had urged NORTH KOREA to refrain from making any additional moves to worsen the situation. He said China wished to continue communication and coordination with the United States on the DPRK issue. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Participants: U.S. -------------- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Dan Piccuta Mr. Paul Pelosi Mrs. Cheryl Sensenbrenner Mr. Jon Blumenauer Mrs. Trudi Inslee Wyndee Parker, National Security Advisor to the Speaker Mr. Wilson Livingood, House Sergeant at Arms Karen Wayland, Policy Advisor to the Speaker Jonathan Stivers, Policy Advisor to the Speaker Gerry Waldron, Professional Staff Member Thomas Schriebel, Professional staff Jim Brown, interpreter Mark Lambert, notetaker Chinese Participants -------------- President Hu Jintao Chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee (and former Foreign Minister) Li Zhaoxing Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei MFA DG Zheng Zeguang 19 Others We Need to Work Together to Save the Planet -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Speaker Pelosi began the meeting by noting China's impressive accomplishments in lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty and retaking a leading role on the world stage. She noted that it would take the concerted effort of China and the United States to save the planet and told President Hu that China had a huge responsibility. The Speaker then turned to her fellow Representatives, giving them an opportunity to speak. Congressman Markey: We Must Live in the Same World -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Representative Markey underscored the fact that China and the United States shared the same planet and had to work together. Congress was working to move forward significant legislation to end "eight years of inaction on climate change policy." "Speaker Pelosi and President Obama are giving our nation new leadership, and this new direction will hopefully allow us to work with China," he said. Noting that the world was "running a fever" and that there were "no emergency rooms for countries," Markey said it was important that the United States work with China but equally important that China signal its willingness to work with the United BEIJING 00001428 002 OF 003 States. Congressman Sensenbrenner: Bipartisan Effort Needed -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Pointing out that he was the only Republican on the delegation, Congressman Sensenbrenner told President Hu about his long involvement in the climate change process and his appreciation for the China's delegations at international climate change fora always taking the time to brief him. Acknowledging that the United States and China both had national interests, Sensenbrenner said that it was time for both parties, the United States and China, to match their national interests with their international obligations. "If the Copenhagen meeting in December is to be successful, we must work together," he declared. Congressman Blumenauer: Match Rural Development with Climate Change -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Congressman Blumenauer praised China's work in lifting 400 million persons out of poverty while acknowledging the daunting work remaining to be done as China developed its rural areas and extended services to those regions. He asked President Hu how China planned to meet its obligations to China's rural poor while reducing its carbon footprint and combating air and water pollution. Blumenauer suggested that there were numerous opportunities in areas like agriculture and clean water for creative collaboration between China and the United States that would help Chinese leaders meet their responsibilities to citizens and meet China's climate change obligations. Congressman Inslee: Harmony -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Congressman Inslee told President Hu that the trip was his first to China and that, while visiting the Forbidden City, he had been struck by an inscription on a pavilion calling for the harmonious operation of all things on earth. Noting that China could not succeed if the United States did not succeed, Inslee called on Hu to leave a harmonious legacy for his people. Explaining that Congress was wrestling with how best to move forward on climate change, Inslee asked Hu to instruct his experts to brief Congress regularly to help them make wise decisions. Hu Responds: 30 Years of Progress -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Noting that 2009 represented the 30th anniversary of Sino-American diplomatic relations, Hu described the dramatic increase in trade, travel and policy initiatives linking China and the United States. These closer ties, he added, benefitted the citizens of both countries and the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Hu expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to prosper and described his agreement with President Obama to create a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship. ¶9. (SBU) President Hu added that China and the United States would not always see eye-to-eye, but so long as leaders in both countries kept a strategic and long-term view on relations and operated with mutual respect and agreed not to interfere in the internal matters of the other, relations would deepen. Hu on Climate Change -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Hu echoed points made by Premier Wen Jiabao (septel) and others about China's policy on climate change. He acknowledged that combating climate change was important to the well-being of mankind and later generations. But, he stressed, the solution would take work by the international community as a whole. China supported the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and Kyoto Protocol position on common but differentiated responsibilities, and Hu expressed hope that the developed world would take the lead by providing financial assistance and technical support to developing countries. At the same time, Hu admitted, the developing countries had a responsibility to take a positive BEIJING 00001428 003 OF 003 stance on sustainable development. Hu briefed the delegation on China's legislation under the present five-year plan to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP and reduce pollutants and suggested that despite the global economic crisis, China would not slacken its efforts. Cooperation on Energy -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Hu expressed hope that the United States and China would enhance cooperation in energy conservation, renewables, new and clean energy and identify specific areas for new bilateral cooperation. President Hu promised to work with the international community to make the Copenhagen meeting a success. Rural Development -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Turning to Congressman Blumenauer's questions, President Hu explained China's enormous domestic challenges, stating that the urban-rural gap was the most serious. He described China's 800 million rural dwellers, their lack of infrastructure and modernization, and stated that economic development would continue to be China's top priority. He described his commitment to build up rural infrastructure, promote science and technology in the countryside, improve social services, and enhance education and health services. Hu spent some time explaining China's bio-gas development, highlighting the need to expand that program. The Speaker Responds: We Need More Openness -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Turning to the global economic situation, the Speaker assured Hu that Congress was committed to reducing the deficit and keeping spending down. Linking climate change to human rights, Speaker Pelosi told President Hu that to fight climate change effectively, all nations, China included, would have to become more open, more transparent and more willing to provide environmental justice to citizens. Human Rights are Important -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Segueing to human rights, Speaker Pelosi told President Hu that human rights were an important issue in our relationship and expressed her hope that China would become more open. President Hu in response said that China was willing to continue its human rights dialogue with the United States on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal matters. Hu told the Speaker that the human rights of the Chinese people had improved as China's economy developed and suggested that this trend would continue. North KOREA -------------- ¶14. (C) Turning to the DPRK, Speaker Pelosi noted the need for China's leadership in the UN and in the Six-Party Talks and urged President Hu to make a firm response to the DPRK nuclear test. Hu told the Speaker that China had expressed its serious concerns over the nuclear test and made clear to the entire international community its firm opposition to the DPRK's actions. China had also urged the DPRK to refrain from making any additional moves to worsen the situation. As to next steps, Hu noted that given the current complex and delicate situation, all parties should react in a cool-headed fashion and adhere to our shared goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. He said that China wished continue communication and coordination with the United States on the DPRK issue. ¶15. (U) Speaker Pelosi's delegation has cleared this cable. PICCUTA