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
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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
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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"
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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
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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

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feasibility of creating such transportation links.

Election Vital to Afghanistan
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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
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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
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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