PRC: AFGHAN FM SPANTA VISIT AFFIRMS POSITIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001680 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2029 TAGS: PREL PARM PTER NATO MOPS MARR EAID EINV CH AF SUBJECT: PRC: AFGHAN FM SPANTA VISIT AFFIRMS POSITIVE BILATERAL RELATIONS BUT NO CONCRETE INITIATIVES Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Ben Moeling Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Afghan FM Spanta's June 9-11 visit to China provided both sides an opportunity to affirm positive bilateral relations but produced no new bilateral economic or security initiatives, according to MFA and Afghan Embassy contacts. While China reiterated its commitment to assist in Afghanistan's economic development, the two sides did not identify new investment projects nor discuss possible areas of cooperation such as agriculture. FM Spanta raised the possibility of opening transportation links directly to China through the Wakhan Corridor. China urged Afghanistan to ensure the security of Chinese workers in Afghanistan and hoped the Afghan elections would take place smoothly and peacefully. The Afghan Embassy reported that the Afghan intelligence chief met with his Chinese counterparts during the visits, but provided no details of the discussion. End summary. ¶2. (C) In a June 19 briefing to Western embassy diplomats on the June 9-11 visit to Beijing of Afghan FM Ragin Dadfar Spanta, MFA Asian Affairs Department Afghanistan and Pakistan Division Deputy Director Xu Wei reported that during Spanta's meetings with PRC Vice President Xi Jinping and FM Yang Jiechi, the two sides discussed China-Afghanistan bilateral relations, China's role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Afghanistan's domestic affairs and the security of Chinese working in Afghanistan. Bilateral Relations: Still No Problems -------------- ¶3. (C) Deputy Director Xu noted that China and Afghanistan continued to enjoy good relations with "no disputes or problems" and that Afghanistan continued to support the one-China policy, including PRC positions on Taiwan and Tibet. For its part, China would continue to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and support Afghanistan's efforts to promote peace, stability and economic development. China's Role in Afghanistan: "Genuine and Unselfish" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The Chinese side discussed PRC assistance and investment projects in Afghanistan, according to Deputy Director Xu, and underscored that China's assistance approach was "genuine and unselfish" and was extended with "no political conditions." China renewed its commitment to provide assistance "within its capability" to improve "civilian life" in Afghanistan. Deputy Director Xu highlighted China's provision of capacity training "in various fields" and noted that the Chinese government encouraged major Chinese enterprises to invest in Afghanistan. When asked, Xu confirmed that no new investment projects had been identified during the visit. Xu also said the two sides had not discussed possible agriculture sector projects or counternarcotics cooperation. Asked whether China pledged any additional assistance to Afghanistan during FM Spanta's visit, Deputy Director Xu noted only the previously announced conversion of a USD 75 million loan (part of a larger USD 150 million pledge in 2001) to a grant. ¶5. (C) Afghan diplomat Mirwais Nab told PolOff June 16 that Afghanistan regularly approached China to increase investment in agriculture, energy, transportation, military equipment, counter-narcotics, and scholarships for Afghan students, but while China responded positively, no specific projects had been mooted. Nab said that, in the agricultural sector, Chinese interlocutors had indicated a desire to work with capable private partners in Afghanistan, who, Nab said, were rare in Afghanistan's underdeveloped agriculture market. Wakhan Corridor -------------- ¶6. (C) In private meetings and in a June 10 speech at the Chinese Institute for International Studies, FM Spanta raised the idea of opening up direct transportation routes to China through the Wakhan Corridor. Deputy Director Xu confirmed the discussion and said the Chinese were considering the BEIJING 00001680 002 OF 002 feasibility of creating such transportation links. Election Vital to Afghanistan -------------- ¶7. (C) Deputy Director Xu reported that the Afghan side emphasized that counterterrorism campaigns could not rely solely on military means to achieve success and that Afghanistan supported a more comprehensive approach that included civilian reconstruction measures. The success of the upcoming elections was critical to Afghanistan's future and the Afghanistan government was confident it would prevent the Taliban and Al-Qaeda from disrupting the elections by working with ISAF and the international community. For its part, China reiterated its support for the Afghan people, Deputy Director Xu said. China would remain a "good neighbor" and hoped the election would be "stable, peaceful, and smooth." Afghan diplomat Nab noted that though China expressed great interest in the election, the two sides did not discuss Afghan government reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. Protecting Chinese Citizens in Afghanistan -------------- ¶8. (C) China urged Afghanistan to "take effective measures" to protect the approximately 700 Chinese working in Afghanistan, according to Deputy Director Xu. Xu cited the road network leading to the Chinese-invested Aynak copper mine in particular. Xu said the Afghan side affirmed it would make every effort to protect Chinese workers at Chinese investment projects in Afghanistan. While Afghan diplomat Nab said Chinese had raised specific security concerns about the Kajaki hydropower plant during the visit, MFA Deputy Director Xu said no specific projects had been mentioned. Xu reiterated that China had no intention of dispatching Chinese security forces to protect Chinese investments, noting that the idea was not discussed during FM Spanta's visit. Afghan Intelligence Chiefs Meets With Interlocutors -------------- -------------- ¶9. (C) Afghan diplomat Nab noted that Afghan government intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh was part of the official delegation and met with his counterparts in the PRC Ministry of State Security. Nab and MFA's Xu separately stated they had no details on the content of the discussions. Deputy Director Xu confirmed, however, that neither side discussed counterterrorism issues during meetings with Vice President Xi and Foreign Minister Yang. PICCUTA