MEDIA REACTION: G20 SUMMIT, CLIMATE CHANGE

UNCLAS BEIJING 002728 DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: G20 SUMMIT, CLIMATE CHANGE -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. G20 SUMMIT "U.S. and UK propose 'global economic rebalancing'" The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China Business News (Diyi Caijing)(09/23)(pg A4): "With the G20 summit in Pittsburgh drawing nearer, G20 countries are accelerating efforts to lay out their respective positions. So far, it seems that there is no support for an immediate end to economic stimulus measures, but the U.S. and UK initiative on global economic rebalancing may emerge as a hot topic. The British Prime Minister has called for a new framework to be set up to solve the global economic imbalance. Obama also said that 'economic rebalancing' is one of topics that should be discussed at the summit. [The U.S. position is that] given its large trade deficit with China and Germany, the U.S. should increase exports. South Korean President Lee Myung Bak said that South Korea may host the next G20 summit. He also emphasized the importance of 'balanced development' and the fact that one country's issues will inevitably affect other countries." "Harmonious Sino-U.S. relations helpful to 'a world in harmony'" Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper 21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(09/23)(pg 3): "The U.S.-China summit in New York will not only discuss bilateral issues, but also focus on global issues. When talking about the G20, Jon Huntsman, the newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to China, said that the U.S.-China relationship will soon reach its highest point in 30 years and the focus will shift more and more from solving bilateral issues to solving global issues. Gong Li, Deputy Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies at China's Central Party School, said that although some U.S. scholars have recently proposed the idea of a 'G2,' China wants to be peaceful and never take the lead, which is why it does not recognize the idea of a G2. He argued that the world should not be dominated by only one superpower or even two superpowers together, but noted that this will not prevent China from continuing to cooperate with the U.S. China also hopes the G20 summit can resist protectionism. The assistant to the president of the People's Bank of China, Guo Qingping, said that China will implement the agreements reached at the G20 summit in London, including financial supervision, international cooperation, and international financial supervision reform." ¶2. CLIMATE CHANGE "China suddenly called 'climate leader'" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(09/23)(pg 1): "It is surprising for China that the West's criticisms over climate change have turned into an expectation that China will take the lead in dealing with this issue. Chinese experts believe that China, as a developing country, is not yet capable of taking the lead on climate change nor should it have this obligation. Some experts worry that this is actually a trap for China. Zou Ji, Deputy Director of the School of Environmental Studies at the People's University of China, argued that China has made contributions to emissions reduction and it is now time for the U.S. to reflect on its selfishness. Developed countries should take more responsibility for today's climate change problems and should not let developing countries pay for developed countries' past mistakes. Developed countries should provide technical and monetary support to help developing countries reduce emissions. At heart, [climate change] negotiations are a fight between developed and developing countries." HUNTSMAN