Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09BEIJING2212 | 2009-08-04 07:47:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Beijing |
VZCZCXRO3980 RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #2212 2160747 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040747Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5477 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2193 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE |
UNCLAS BEIJING 002212 |
1. (SBU) At the request of the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), ESTHOffs met with Deputy Director General (DDG) of International Cooperation Madam RU Xiaomei on July 31 to share current USG views on international family planning and related policy toward China. ESTHOFF relayed points provided in REF A to inform NPFPC of USG's funding constraints vis-`-vis the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and China, and to share the larger context of U.S. concerns about coercive practices carried out as a result of China's family planning policies. NPFPC briefed ESTHOffs on recent developments in China's family planning system and called upon the USG to exchange views on these issues more frequently. 2. (SBU) Ru noted that the Chinese government has made many improvements in its family planning policy, with the goal of shifting the policy toward a more incentive- and service-based approach. She also stated that the policy has in recent years evolved from its previously narrower focus on controlling population size, and now seeks to address related demographic issues like aging, migrants, and gender equity. 3. (SBU) Ru attributed much of the progress China has made in family planning to its numerous bilateral and multilateral partnerships and programs in this area, for example, with Japan, Korea, Spain, Australia, and with UNFPA. Citing recent statements by USG officials that the United States would again take a leading role in global family planning, Ru called the decision by the USG to reduce its contribution to UNFPA (originally USD 50 million) by the estimated amount UNFPA provides to programs in China (USD 4 million) "unwise." She urged the United States to engage actively with China in its family planning efforts and to "come see activities on the ground," rather than "stand on the outside and criticize." Ru added that this would be "the best way" to help China modernize and improve implementation of its family planning policy. 4. (SBU) Ending the meeting on a more positive note, DDG Ru thanked ESTHOff for sharing the Administration's views and expressed hope that the meeting would be a new start to continued dialogue and communication between China and the United States on population and family planning. (NOTE: The last time a USG official met with NPFPC in Beijing to discuss family planning was at the Deputy Assistant Secretary level in March 2007 (REF B), and later in September 2007, at the Deputy Office Director level. END NOTE) 5. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite DDG Ru's obvious disappointment with the USG's decision to prohibit UNFPA from using U.S. contributions for its activities in China, she nevertheless received ESTHOffs enthusiastically and was eager to share with the Embassy (and Washington) in detail what she clearly believed to be improvements in the Chinese family planning system. NPFPC likely would be just as responsive to any additional requests for information or dialogue that Washington may put forth in the near future. END COMMENT. GOLDBERG |