Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SUVA197
2009-05-13 02:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Suva
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PRC AMBASSADOR HAN ZHIQIANG
how-toVZCZCXRO3657 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHSV #0197 1330253 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 130253Z MAY 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY SUVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1239 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0355 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2242 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0173 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0171 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1694 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0167 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0307 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0002 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0424 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS SUVA 000197
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREM FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PRC AMBASSADOR HAN ZHIQIANG
ON FIJI AND PACIFIC COOPERATION
REF: A. SUVA 82
B. 08 SUVA 274
UNCLAS SUVA 000197
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREM FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PRC AMBASSADOR HAN ZHIQIANG
ON FIJI AND PACIFIC COOPERATION
REF: A. SUVA 82
B. 08 SUVA 274
1. (SBU) On May 12, PRC Ambassador Han Zhiqiang, accompanied
by counselor Fei Mingxing and a note-taker, paid a friendly
courtesy call on Embassy Suva. This was the first time the
PRC ambassador had visited the U.S. embassy, though we have
had previous meetings at his embassy and residence. Han
invoked President Hu Jintao and President Obama,s
conversations as a catalyst for the meeting. Han emphasized
that China wants to be a partner with the U.S. on global
issues, the international economy, and particularly in the
Pacific.
2. (SBU) With respect to Fiji, Ambassador Han said that China
continues to maintain its policy of non-interference in the
internal affairs of countries and would not impose sanctions.
At the same time, he observed that our objectives in Fiji
are complementary. The PRC assesses that Fiji is essential
to regional economic stability and does not want to see
Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru suffer as a result of Fiji,s
instability. Han emphasized that PRC Vice President Xi
Jinping had called on Bainimarama to hold elections soon
during his February 2009 stopover in Nadi.
3. (SBU) Ambassador Han said that the PRC would continue with
its development assistance programs for Fiji, drawing from
its 375 million USD loan program, and focused primarily on
low cost housing and repairing roads and bridges. He
emphasized that China is not currently giving any direct
military assistance to Fiji. (Note: Fijian soldiers are
attending service schools in the PRC. End note.)
4. (SBU) Han was pleased to report that as a result of better
relations between Beijing and Taipei there would be no more
checkbook diplomacy in the Pacific. The PRC will not ask
Nauru or Kiribati to switch recognition, he said, but would
also look for ways to provide development assistance to those
countries and fulfill its responsibilities to protect
overseas Chinese in the region.
5. (SBU) Comment: I welcomed future cooperation with
Ambassador Han on Pacific issues and also noted that both of
us were simultaneously building regional hub embassies in
Suva. I agreed that we would meet regularly to discuss the
situation in Fiji and better coordinate our messages to the
regime. Han clearly was under instructions to underline our
better relations in light of Vice Foreign Minister He
Yafei,s scheduled visit to Washington next week.
MCGANN
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO ACTING A/S DAVIES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREM FJ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH PRC AMBASSADOR HAN ZHIQIANG
ON FIJI AND PACIFIC COOPERATION
REF: A. SUVA 82
B. 08 SUVA 274
1. (SBU) On May 12, PRC Ambassador Han Zhiqiang, accompanied
by counselor Fei Mingxing and a note-taker, paid a friendly
courtesy call on Embassy Suva. This was the first time the
PRC ambassador had visited the U.S. embassy, though we have
had previous meetings at his embassy and residence. Han
invoked President Hu Jintao and President Obama,s
conversations as a catalyst for the meeting. Han emphasized
that China wants to be a partner with the U.S. on global
issues, the international economy, and particularly in the
Pacific.
2. (SBU) With respect to Fiji, Ambassador Han said that China
continues to maintain its policy of non-interference in the
internal affairs of countries and would not impose sanctions.
At the same time, he observed that our objectives in Fiji
are complementary. The PRC assesses that Fiji is essential
to regional economic stability and does not want to see
Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru suffer as a result of Fiji,s
instability. Han emphasized that PRC Vice President Xi
Jinping had called on Bainimarama to hold elections soon
during his February 2009 stopover in Nadi.
3. (SBU) Ambassador Han said that the PRC would continue with
its development assistance programs for Fiji, drawing from
its 375 million USD loan program, and focused primarily on
low cost housing and repairing roads and bridges. He
emphasized that China is not currently giving any direct
military assistance to Fiji. (Note: Fijian soldiers are
attending service schools in the PRC. End note.)
4. (SBU) Han was pleased to report that as a result of better
relations between Beijing and Taipei there would be no more
checkbook diplomacy in the Pacific. The PRC will not ask
Nauru or Kiribati to switch recognition, he said, but would
also look for ways to provide development assistance to those
countries and fulfill its responsibilities to protect
overseas Chinese in the region.
5. (SBU) Comment: I welcomed future cooperation with
Ambassador Han on Pacific issues and also noted that both of
us were simultaneously building regional hub embassies in
Suva. I agreed that we would meet regularly to discuss the
situation in Fiji and better coordinate our messages to the
regime. Han clearly was under instructions to underline our
better relations in light of Vice Foreign Minister He
Yafei,s scheduled visit to Washington next week.
MCGANN