INFORMAL PROPOSAL FOR U.S.-CHINA BILATERAL INTERAGENCY

UNCLAS BEIJING 001953 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MNUC CH CT SUBJECT: INFORMAL PROPOSAL FOR U.S.-CHINA BILATERAL INTERAGENCY COUNTERTERRORISM EXCHANGE IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2009 ¶1. On 10 July 2009 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) External Security Division Director Xia Jingge informally proposed a bilateral interagency exchange on counterterrorism issues in Mid-September 2009. Director Xia suggested the exchange should be jointly led by Director General for External Security Affairs Wang Min and S/CT Benjamin. ¶2. As proposed, the exchange would include officials at the Deputy Director General level or below from the Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Public Security, People's Liberation Army, People's Bank of China and their appropriate U.S. counterparts. Director Xia proposed holding the exchange in Washington D.C. from September 14-16. This would include a day of meetings on September 14, field trips to FBI and CTC facilities on September 15, and sightseeing on September 16. ¶3. Director Xia emphasized that this should be a strictly bilateral exchange, not tied to any ongoing multilateral counterterrorism work. He added that this was an informal proposal to obtain Washington's initial reaction before proceeding with any further planning. GOLDBERG