CWC: U.S.-CHINA CONSULTATIONS: RESPONSE FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000481 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/CB, VCI/CCA, L/NPV, IO/MPR SECDEF FOR OSD/GSA/CN,CP> JOINT STAFF FOR DD PMA-A FOR WTC COMMERCE FOR BIS (BROWN, DENYER AND CRISTOFARO) NSC FOR LUTES WINPAC FOR WALTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2019 TAGS: PARM PREL CWC OPCW CH JA SUBJECT: CWC: U.S.-CHINA CONSULTATIONS: RESPONSE FROM CHINESE DELEGATION IN THE HAGUE REF: SECSTATE 79502 Classified By: Nikolas E. Granger for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) This is CWC-48-09. ¶1. (C) On August 7, Delreps Granger and Smith met with Chinese Deputy PermRep Chen Kai and Chinese delegate Xu Feng to deliver reftel points. Delrep informed Chen of Washington's positive response to China's standing invitation for bilateral discussions in Beijing and site visits to Nanjing and Shanghai. Chen said that dates still are being considered and that he understands Beijing would prefer the visit to take place near the end of the year, possibly in November or December, after a planned bilateral discussion on general arms control issues. ¶2. (C) Delrep raised including Japanese representatives for the Nanjing site visit. Chen, while personally in favor of the concept, indicated that this had not been discussed yet and would require bilateral discussions between Japan and China. Delrep noted that a visit to a U.S. industrial facility -- comparable to the Shanghai site visit -- could not be guaranteed, and Chen fully understood due that this was due to the private ownership of U.S. facilities. Delrep also noted the U.S. desire to focus the bilateral discussions on working-level, technical issues -- including outstanding, unresolved questions -- and informed Chen that written questions will be provided in advance of the visit to facilitate substantive dialogue. ¶3. (U) GRANGER SENDS. GALLAGHER