AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR ZHANG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000053 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC CH SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE MEETS WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR ZHANG Classified By: Ambassador Rice, For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1 (C) SUMMARY: During a 26 January cordial and productive initial meeting, Chinese Permanent Representative Zhang welcomed Ambassador Rice to the United Nations and said the Government of China is determined to work with the new U.S. administration to strengthen our bilateral relationship. He outlined three UN priorities for China: international peace and security, particularly in Africa; economic and social development; and Security Council reform. On reform, Zhang said China's bottom line is supporting any measure that achieves a two-thirds majority. On Sudan, Zhang said that regardless of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision regarding Sudanese President Bashir, the Council should respond in a "modest, low-key fashion" with no Council follow-up. Ambassador Rice responded that she does not expect the United States will support an Article 16 deferral. On Council reform, Ambassador Rice emphasized the importance of the Council having an ability to respond quickly and effectively to international crises. They also discussed DPRK, Iran, and climate change. END SUMMARY. Chinese Policy Priorities in the UN ¶2. (C) Chinese PR Zhang outlined three major priorities for China at the United Nations: first, to ensure international peace and security through cooperation within the UN and the Security Council. More than 70 percent of issues threatening peace and security relate to Africa, he added, and the number will grow unless more is done. Second, to promote economic and social development, especially in light of the global recession. Third, to encourage the "healthy reconstruction of an international government system," including the UN and specifically Security Council reform. Ambassador Rice shared U.S. policy objectives and noted the overlap with Chinese priorities, particularly the shared commitment to promote international peace and security. She asked for Chinese cooperation to strengthen the capacity of the UN and decrease the gap between what is demanded of the organization and its capacity to deliver. UNSC Reform ¶3. (C) Ambassador Zhang noted the start of intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council expansion in February and said that close P5 cooperation would promote mutual interests. Zhang emphasized the importance of encouraging 
member states to seek the broadest possible agreement, noting that no single proposal has achieved the necessary two-thirds majority. He also underlined the need to work together to prevent divisive moves, such as premature voting, a "straw poll" or a resolution in the General Assembly. These actions would be "disastrous" and "poison the atmosphere" of the UN, he added. Zhang said the P5 should continue to cooperate, especially Russia, China and the United States. The bottom line, he said, is that China supports any reform measure that meets with the approval of the necessary two-thirds majority. Approaching the issue cautiously and showing unity would benefit the Council, he said. Ambassador Rice said the Council does not currently reflect global realities. She added that the United States wants to ensure the Council can respond quickly and effectively to threats to international peace and security. Sudan ¶4. (C) Ambassador Zhang said China is "deeply concerned" about the situation in Sudan. He pointed to the lack of a strong central government as the root cause of the problem. He said China does not want to see the UNAMID deployment negatively affected and added the Sudanese government has been trying to work with the international community for UNAMID deployment. Regarding the request from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an arrest warrant on President Bashir, Zhang said that regardless of the outcome, the Security Council should react in a "modest, low-key fashion," adding that there should be no Council follow-up. Zhang also said that China has been encouraging the Sudanese to continue working with UNAMID even if an arrest warrant is issued. Ambassador Rice said the preferred outcome in Sudan is for a representative, democratic government that takes into account the rights of its people. She added that she doesn't expect that the United States will support an Article 16 deferral, and that the UN must remain in Sudan without reprisals resulting from the ICC decision. We must focus the dialogue on minimizing the possibility of the Government of Sudan using the situation as an excuse for increased violence. We are not necessarily opposed to being "low key," she said, but we will not obstruct justice. DPRK USUN NEW Y 00000053 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Ambassador Zhang reported that several weeks ago Kim Jong-Il told a visiting senior Chinese minister he remains committed to Six-Party Talks and looks forward to working with the new administration. Responding to a question about the DPRK's increasingly provocative rhetoric directed toward South Korea, Zhang said the new South Korean president, considered very pro-American, offended the North Koreans with strong public statements. These provoked "threatening signals" from the leader, but should not be taken seriously, he added. Zhang said China remains committed to a denuclearized Korean peninsula through negotiations. Rice thanked China for its active participation in the Six-Party process. Iran ¶6. (C) Ambassador Zhang said that China is strongly opposed to Iran's possession of nuclear weapons and supports the international nonproliferation regime. The issue must be resolved through dialogue, he added. He hoped the P5 1 would "take interest" in possible direct U.S. - Iran engagement. Ambassador Rice said the U.S. will to use all the tools at its disposal, including direct diplomacy and the P5 1 format, but efforts must be coupled with pressure from the international community. Climate Change ¶7. (C) Zhang agreed that the U.S. and China must cooperate on climate change "or there is no future for either of us." He said China attaches great importance to the issue and hopes our countries can coordinate internationally as well as bilaterally on the issue. Ambassador Rice emphasized the urgent need to address climate change and pressed for Chinese cooperation on the issue. Rice