CDA AND MFA DG ZHENG ZEGUANG: DPRK, MIL-MIL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001547 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2034 TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV CASC SENV CH SUBJECT: CDA AND MFA DG ZHENG ZEGUANG: DPRK, MIL-MIL, CLIMATE CHANGE, SNED, AMCIT PRISONERS Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Dan Piccuta. Reasons 1.4 (b/d ). ¶1. (C) In a June 9 luncheon hosted by the Charge, MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Department Director General Zheng Zeguang said that senior officials who met with Deputy Secretary Steinberg had been impressed by his seriousness of purpose and by his explanation of the U.S. position on how best to respond to North Korean provocations. In a free flowing conversation Zheng also pledged to continue to follow closely the case of two detained Americans in North Korea and expressed optimism that China and the United States might bridge gaps on climate change prior to the December UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Zheng plans to visit Washington in July to prepare for the Strategic and Economic Dialogue and promised to have comments to the U.S. draft agenda soon. The Charge raised the cases of two arrested American citizens. End Summary. DPRK Nuclear Issue -------------- ¶2. (C) In a June 9 luncheon hosted by the Charge, MFA North American and Oceanian Affairs Department DG noted recent close bilateral collaboration on the DPRK nuclear issue and said that the U.S. delegation to Beijing led by Deputy Secretary Steinberg had clearly laid out the U.S. position and the need for a strong UNSCR. Zheng said that all of Steinberg's Chinese interlocutors had noted his seriousness of purpose and now had a clear understanding of the U.S. position. Zheng suggested that upcoming speeches by Ambassador Bosworth and by Deputy Secretary Steinberg would be read with interest in Beijing and that both speeches would be opportunities to underscore the need for a multilateral effort to solve the impasse with Pyongyang. Zheng characterized the difference in positions between the U.S. and Chinese positions at the United Nations as something that might be closed "with enough last ditch effort." AmCits Detained by North Korea -------------- ¶3. (C) The Charge thanked Zheng for the assistance China had provided in encouraging North Korea to treat the two AmCit journalists detained there properly and asked for continued help in winning their release. Zheng said that the PRC had done everything within its power to win their release and pledged to continue to do so. Military-Military Cooperation -------------- ¶4. (C) The Charge briefed Zheng about the June 23-24 visit to Beijing of Under Secretary of Defense Flournoy for the Defense Consultative Talks (DCT). Zheng agreed that the DCT was an excellent opportunity to improve bilateral military relations. "The only way we will improve the present situation," Zheng noted, "is to increase the number of exchanges between our militaries." Zheng also said that, with the large number of upcoming high-level exchanges between senior American and Chinese leaders, he hoped we could continue to avoid "incidents" between our two militaries. Climate Change -------------- ¶5. (C) Zheng told the Charge that he had attended meetings our special envoy for climate change Todd Stern had attended with Chinese counterparts. Zheng expressed optimism that Washington and Beijing could reach a bilateral agreement that would help to make the December COP-15 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen a success. He was particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of a joint U.S.-China research institute and other types of technical cooperation between U.S. and Chinese experts. Strategic and Economic Dialogue -------------- ¶6. (C) Zheng offered no official comment to the U.S. sample agenda for the upcoming SnED but did promise a response "soon" to U.S. requests for clarity on a number of points including China's views on how breakout sessions on climate change would be organized. Regarding the question of a SnED BEIJING 00001547 002 OF 002 joint statement, Zheng said he hoped the U.S. would offer a draft soon for China to consider. Zheng also said that he planned to travel to Washington in early July to facilitate preparation for the SnED and would provide the Embassy with his itinerary shortly. Iran -------------- ¶7. (C) Zheng praised the President's recent speech in Cairo and agreed that Iranian officials had not yet responded favorably to his overtures for talks. Zheng suggested that Iranian preoccupation with domestic elections might be responsible and suggested the United States remain patient, drawing a parallel with North Korea. American Citizen Prisoner Cases -------------- ¶8. (C) The Charge asked Zheng to look into two arrest cases of American citizens. He explained that Dr. Hu Zhicheng was an American citizen detained in Tianjin as part of a trade dispute. The Charge also briefed Zheng on the case of Dr. Feng Xue, being held by the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing for suspicion of spying and stealing state secrets. Zheng promised to look into the cases. PICCUTA