DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PRC TO REFRAIN FROM STATEMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 002651 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND S/SRAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV AF PK CH SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PRC TO REFRAIN FROM STATEMENTS PREJUDGING OUTCOME OF AFGHAN ELECTION REF: STATE 095019 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary: China will avoid making any pronouncement on the outcome of Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election until after the Independent Election Commission (IEC) releases final certified results, according to an MFA official. China would like the next Afghan government to make progress on political and ethnic reconciliation, in relations with neighboring countries and the international community, and in the areas of domestic stability and development. Calling SRAP Holbrooke's September 7-8 visit to Beijing "productive," the official said Beijing is still reviewing our proposal for a working-level interagency team to travel to Washington for consultations. End Summary. MFA: U.S. and PRC Views on Election "Identical" -------------- -- ¶2. (C) China shared an "identical" interest with the United States in avoiding actions that could create a perception of prejudging the outcome of Afghanistan's August 20 presidential election, MFA Asian Affairs Department Pakistan and Afghanistan Division First Secretary Chen Feng told PolOff on September 15 in response to ref A points urging countries to refrain from endorsing any electoral outcome until it was properly certified by the Independent Election Commission (IEC). Chen stated that China would wait until after the IEC had issued final certified results before making any public statement on the result or sending any congratulatory message to the winner of the election. China respected the right of the people of Afghanistan to choose their own leader and did not support or oppose any particular presidential candidate. Commenting on election-related violence, Chen noted that China hoped the remainder of the electoral process proceeded smoothly and securely. China's Aspirations for New Afghanistan Government -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Chen highlighted three areas where China would like to see the newly-elected Afghanistan government make progress following its inauguration: 1) political and ethnic reconciliation, 2) positive relations with neighboring countries and the international community, and 3) domestic stability and development. China hoped the new government would attain popular support and legitimacy in order to unite Afghanistan's political parties and ethnic groups following the hotly-contested electoral process. Reaction to SRAP Holbrooke's September 7-8 Visit -------------- --- ¶4. (C) Chen characterized SRAP Holbrooke's September 7-8 visit to Beijing as "productive," adding that Ambassador Holbrooke's discussions with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and State Councilor Dai Bingguo had cemented mutual U.S.-China understanding on the possibility of joint cooperation in Afghanistan and Pakistan's development process. On SRAP Holbrooke's proposal for Beijing to send a working-level interagency team to Washington to conduct talks on U.S. activities in the region and ways to increase U.S.-China cooperation, Chen noted that the MFA was still reviewing the proposal, and cautioned that it would take time for the MFA to coordinate a response to the U.S. invitation with its interagency counterparts. HUNTSMAN