CODEL MURRAY: SHANGHAI LEADERS DISCUSS SHANGHAI EXPO AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SHANGHAI 000020 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ASEC ECON PGOV OVIP MURRAY PATTY CH SUBJECT: CODEL MURRAY: SHANGHAI LEADERS DISCUSS SHANGHAI EXPO AND SECURITY (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for dissemination outside USG channels; not for Internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Shanghai Municipal leaders stressed the importance of the upcoming Shanghai 2010 World Expo during meetings with CODEL Murray on January 15. Security concerns related to the event remain a top priority for the municipal government. End Summary. World Expo the Big Ticket in 2010 -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Shanghai Municipal Communist Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng warmly welcomed Senator Murray and the other members of her delegation January 15. Yu said the Shanghai World Expo 2010 is the most important item on the Shanghai Municipal Government's agenda for the year. He stated that unlike Beijing during the 2008 Olympics, Shanghai would adopt a "more open attitude" towards Expo attendees. (Note: It was not immediately clear what Yu meant by either his comparison to the Beijing Olympics or what a "more open attitude" entails on the security side. End Note.) The Shanghai Municipal Government predicts there will be 70 million visitors to the Expo, and Yu said 18 million Expo tickets already have been sold. ¶3. (SBU) Yu expressed his "heartfelt appreciation" for Secretary of State Clinton's leadership to secure support and funding for the U.S. Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. He expressed to Senator Murray his expectation that the U.S. Pavilion will be one of the most successful pavilions at the Expo. Expo Security Challenges are Paramount -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Yu said the high number of Expo visitors will pose a "real security challenge." Concerns range from fire safety on the Expo construction site to security checks for visitors after the Expo opens on May 1. Several subway stations near the Expo site also will implement new security checks, Yu said. He added that the attempt by an alleged terrorist to detonate explosives concealed in his clothing while on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit caused government officials to ask if additional precautions should be taken at Shanghai airports. Hoping for USG Visitors to the Expo -------------- ¶5. During a lunch meeting on January 15, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress (SMPC) Vice Chairman Hu Wei also raised Expo security. According to Hu, Shanghai is waiting for additional funding from the Central Government for Expo security, indicating that security costs are likely to exceed initial projections. ¶6. (SBU) SMPC Vice Chairman Hu extended an invitation to Senator Murray to return for the Expo. He noted that Shanghai receives many visits from foreign government leaders and is ready to receive more for the Expo. He also believes many U.S. citizens will come to Shanghai to visit the Expo. He added that accommodation for Expo visitors will be provided for by Shanghai residents as well as hotels in Shanghai and nearby cities. SHANGHAI 00000020 002 OF 003 Senator Murray thanked Hu for the warm welcome to Shanghai and also noted that many more members of Congress would like to come and visit the Expo. Meeting Participants -------------- ¶7. (U) U.S. Participants at both meetings Senator Patty Murray Mr. Rob Murray, husband of Senator Murray Senator Christopher Bond Senator Roland Burris Mr. Evan Schatz, Legislative Director, Office of Senator Murray Mr. C. Michael DuBois, Senior Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Bond Mr. Travis Lumpkin, Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Murray LTC Rich Root, U.S. Army Senate Liaison Office LT Justin Cox, Office of Attending Physician Ms. Beatrice Camp, Consul General, U.S. Consulate Ms. Fei Yuying, Interpreter, U.S. Consulate Mr. Jessup Taylor, Notetaker, U.S. Consulate ¶8. (U) Chinese Participants at Secretary Yu Meeting Yu Zhengsheng, Secretary, Shanghai Municipal Party Jin Mao, Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, National People's Congress Yao Mingbao, Secretary General, Standing Committee, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Ding Xuexiang, Secretary General, Municipal Party Standing Committee Li Mingjun, Director, Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office Peng Fang, Director, Foreign Affairs Office, National People's Congress Wang Zhong, Vice Director, Budget Committee, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress ¶9. (U) Chinese Participants at Vice Chairman Hu Lunch and Meeting Hu Wei, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Jin Mao, Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, National People's Congress Yao Mingbao, Secretary General, Standing Committee, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Peng Fang, Director, Foreign Affairs Office, National People's SHANGHAI 00000020 003 OF 003 Congress Wang Zhong, Vice Director, Budget Committee, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Wu Jinlan, Deputy Director, Foreign Affairs Office, Shanghai Municipality Xu Yi, Deputy Director, Standing Committee Office, Shanghai Municipal People's Congress ¶10. (U) CODEL staff cleared this cable. CAMP