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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1522
INFO ALAFD/ALL AF DIPLOMATIC POSTS COLLECTIVE
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RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 4362
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 014617 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AF A/S FRAZER, OGAC - KOLKAR, SAEGER 
BANGKOK FOR USAID AND CDC GAP 
HHS FOR OGHA - STEIGER, BHAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016 
TAGS: PREL TBIO AGOA ECON EAID TW CH
SUBJECT: PRC/AFRICA: WEN JIABAO HIGHLIGHTS PRC INTEREST IN 
HEALTH, REJECTS NEO-COLONIALISM 
 
REF: A. BEIJING 7835 
     ¶B. KAMPALA 1253 
     ¶C. DAR ES SALAAM 1065 
     ¶D. LUANDA 661 
     ¶E. KINSHASA 993 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Robert Griffiths.  R 
easons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) Premier Wen Jiabao's June 17-24 tour of seven African 
nations provided an opportunity for China to highlight the 
humanitarian aspects of its engagement in Africa, according 
to MFA Africa Department Officer Zhang Dianbin.  Wen refuted 
criticism that China engages in neo-colonialism in Africa. 
China is interested in discussing health cooperation, 
including HIV/AIDS and malaria, in the next U.S.-PRC Africa 
regional sub-dialogue and may seek to include its PRC Health 
Ministry officials.  With regard to the timing of the next 
U.S.-China Africa sub-dialogue, the MFA Africa Department 
notes that its attention is focused on the intensifying 
preparations for November's mammoth Forum on China-Africa 
Cooperation in Beijing.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Poloff discussed Premier Wen's Africa trip with MFA 
Africa Department Officer Zhang Dianbin and, separately, Dr. 
He Wenping, an Africa expert with the Chinese Academy of 
Social Sciences (CASS), a Beijing-based think tank affiliated 
with the State Council. 
 
Evolving Aid? 
------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Premier Wen's trip was designed primarily to celebrate 
the fiftieth anniversary of PRC-Africa ties and to deepen 
Sino-African friendship, according to Zhang.  Wen 
participated in 80 activities and signed 71 agreements during 
his eight-day Africa trip last month, which avoided 
contentious issues by design.  Wen addressed bilateral 
cooperation, particularly agriculture and infrastructure, as 
well as highlighted the PRC's new emphasis on 
people-to-people support.  China wants to maintain good 
relations with African people in addition to their 
governments.  The PRC recognizes that local people need 
assistance in addition to government-to-government 
agreements.   For example, Wen presented financial assistance 
and computers to a Ugandan HIV/AIDS clinic.  China pledged to 
send 10-person medical teams to Angola and Ghana and offered 
to send teachers to establish Chinese-language schools 
throughout Africa.  The China Youth League has already sent a 
small number of volunteers to work in education and 
agriculture and China foresees an increasing volunteer 
presence in Africa, Zhang said.  Dr. He added that this is 
Wen's second trip to Africa and served to help build personal 
relationships between the Premier and his counterparts. 
 
Two Strategic Partnerships 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Zhang stated that China signed "strategic partnership" 
agreements with Egypt and South Africa and similar, but not 
as significant, memoranda of understanding with Ghana, Congo 
(Brazzaville), Tanzania, Angola and Uganda.  A strategic 
partnership agreement acknowledges that the PRC places 
heightened significance on bilateral political relations with 
a given country, provides a framework for frequent 
senior-level exchanges and supports broad economic 
cooperation.  In Egypt, Wen discussed Iran, Iraq, the overall 
Middle East situation and UN reform.  In South Africa, 
President Mbeki acknowledged the importance of cooperating 
economically with China but said that some Chinese exports to 
South Africa adversely affect local markets.  Wen pledged 
that China will voluntarily limit textile exports to protect 
South Africa's textile sector.  There was no formal 
agreement, however, according to Zhang.   (Note: Media 
reports said an agreement was "initialed" but not finalized. 
End Note).  Dr. He said China's Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) 
would enforce the self-imposed limits for major commodities, 
but small enterprises generally are not closely regulated by 
MOFCOM.  Dr. He also said that Wen witnessed the signing of 
bilateral agreements on judicial anti-corruption cooperation 
in Angola, Congo and South Africa.  Dr. He understands that 
 
BEIJING 00014617  002 OF 002 
 
 
these agreements are designed to share information on 
criminals and assist the PRC in tracking and bringing to 
justice Chinese criminals. 
 
China: Neocolonialism Hat Doesn't Fit 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Zhang said that Wen publicly addressed 
"neo-colonialism" during his trip in response to elements in 
the Western media, which have over the past year labeled 
China "neo-colonialist."  China is puzzled by and strongly 
opposes these allegations, which can adversely impact China's 
international image.  Wen spoke out because China cannot stay 
silent or it will be viewed as implicitly agreeing with the 
allegations, according to Zhang, who argued that Sino-African 
cooperation has a long history and that China stood by Africa 
during Africa's struggle against colonialism.  Sino-Africa 
cooperation produces mutual benefits and is based on mutual 
trust, he stated, asserting that it is not targeted at nor 
designed to harm the interests of third countries.  China is 
focused on "globalism," not "neo-colonialism," Zhang said. 
Dr. He added that China is very concerned about the 
neo-colonialist label, but is confident that its behavior 
does not fit the description.  Unlike colonal regimes, China 
does not control any African territory, respects African 
sovereignty and adheres to international rules of free trade. 
 Western criticism reflects Cold War psychology, but China 
welcomed AF A/S Frazer's overtures to explore areas for 
cooperation during the November 2005 sub-dialogue, Dr. He 
said. 
China-Africa Forum Update 
------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) At each stop, Wen discussed preparations for 
November's Forum for China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing (Ref 
A).  China has received a very good response to its 
invitations to heads of state.  China will invite the six 
countries with "so-called" diplomatic relations with Taiwan 
to participate at a lower level as observers, consistent with 
past practices.  UNSYG Annan may attend, schedule permitting, 
and UN agencies may play some role in the summit.  No other 
non-African regional or international organizations, such as 
the European Union, have been invited at this time, Zhang 
said.  Dr. He speculated the top themes of November Forum 
will include investment, assistance and increasing 
training/human resources in Africa.  Separately, a South 
Korean (ROK) Embassy contact told us that at least 30 African 
heads of state have accepted invitations to the forum.  As 
each African leader expects state visit protocol, including 
individual time with President Hu, Chinese authorities are 
dealing with an unanticipated logistical challenge as they 
attempt to manage African expectations and pride and 
President Hu's time.  African leaders are sensitive to being 
lumped together, but President Hu cannot feasibly find time 
during the summit for thirty or more bilaterals.  Some 
African countries have expressed dissatisfaction with current 
protocol arrangements, our ROK contact said. 
French Embassy Political Counselor Fabrice Mauries told us 
that Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Angola are all 
conditioning head of state participation on PRC agreement to 
bilateral state visits either immediately before or after the 
Forum. 
 
Subdialogue: China Interested In Health Cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶7. (C) Zhang said China is interested in discussing health 
cooperation in the next Africa regional sub-dialogue with the 
United States and may seek to include Health Ministry 
officials.  Potential areas for cooperation include HIV/AIDS 
and malaria.  However, Dr. He noted that China is concerned 
that if it joins traditional donor coordination mechanisms in 
Africa, it will be seen as attaching strings to its aid. 
China must fully understand how it will benefit from 
participating in donor coordination before it proceeds 
further. 
 
¶8. (C) When asked, Zhang said China had no official position 
on the timing of the next U.S.-PRC Africa regional 
sub-dialogue.  Preparations for November's Forum on 
China-Africa Cooperation are intensifying, requiring a great 
deal of the MFA's Africa Department attention, Zhang noted. 
RANDT