VZCZCXRO3541
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #7112/01 1041052
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141052Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2979
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WHA DIPLOMATIC POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1290

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 007112 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016 
TAGS: PREL PINR PGOV CH CU VE XM
SUBJECT: A/S SHANNON DISCUSSES CHINA-LATIN AMERICA 
RELATIONS WITH PARTY CCID DG WANG HUA 
 
BEIJING 00007112  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel 
Shields.  Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) China's objectives in Latin America are to 
establish a political partnership based on equality 
and trust, to develop a cooperative economic 
relationship and to deepen cultural exchanges, 
Communist Party Central Committee International 
Department (CCID) Director General for Latin America 
Wang Hua told WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon. 
China has also been reaching out to Latin America, 
which Beijing sees as a "big school" for models of 
development.  Despite various crises in Latin America, 
the region's level of development remains higher than 
China's.  Wang expressed hope that the United States 
and China can cooperate in Latin America.  He listened 
intently as A/S Shannon outlined trends in U.S.-Latin 
America relations, urged China to encourage Cuba to 
open up to the outside world and called for caution by 
China in its relations with Venezuela, particularly in 
the area of military sales.  End Summary. 
 
Chinese Citizens Interested in A/S Shannon's Visit 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2.  (C) In an April 13 meeting, CCID Director General 
for Latin America Wang Hua (see paras 13 and 14 for 
bio information) welcomed A/S Shannon to China and 
said a Chinese-language search for A/S Shannon's name 
registers some 2,000 hits.  This reflects Chinese 
citizens' interest in A/S Shannon's visit to China for 
dialogue with his MFA counterparts on Latin America 
issues.  Wang stressed the close coordination between 
the CCID and the MFA.  He and MFA DG for Latin America 
Zeng Gang are close friends.  While Zeng reports to FM 
Li Zhaoxing and Wang reports to Party International 
Department Minister Wang Jiarui, both report to Hu 
Jintao, the President and Party Secretary. 
 
¶3.  (C) A/S Shannon noted high-level interest in the 
U.S. Government in further developing U.S.-China 
relations, understanding China's evolving relations 
with Latin America and in exploring how the United 
States and China can best work together on matters 
relating to Latin America.  There are many points of 
convergence between U.S. and Chinese interests in 
Latin America, he noted. 
 
China-Latin America Party-Party Relations 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Wang gave an overview of the evolution of 
party-party relations between China and Latin American 
countries.  More than 20 years ago, the leaders of the 
Chinese Communist Party held a tight monopoly on 
power, but following decades of reform, the situation 
has changed.  This affects the Party's relations with 
political parties and groups in Latin America. 
Initially, the CCID's relationships were confined to 
other Communist Parties.  In 1953 the Brazilian 
Communist Party sent a delegation to China hosted by 
the CCID.  Following a revamping of Chinese foreign 
policy in 1978, China reached out to non-Communist 
parties in Latin America, sending a delegation to 
Mexico in 1979 for PRI anniversary celebrations and 
hosting Venezuela's COPEI Party in 1980.  A/S Shannon 
commented that COPEI had played an important role in 
the democratization of Latin America in the 1980s, 
which Wang acknowledged. 
 
Four Principles in Party-Party Relations 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Wang stressed that China adheres to four 
principles in party-party relations: 1) all parties 
are independent and responsible to their people, 2) 
all lawful parties, big or small, ruling or in 
opposition, are equal, 3) all parties should respect 
each other and the road of development they have 
chosen and 4) no party should interfere in the 
 
BEIJING 00007112  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
internal affairs of another party.  These four 
principles track with China's five principles for 
peaceful coexistence at the state-state level.   Wang 
said the Party has relations with more than 90 
parties, including ruling and opposition parties of 
varying ideological perspectives, in more than 30 
countries in Latin America.  When there are problems 
in state-state relations, party-party relations can 
play a helpful bridging role, he noted. 
 
Six Factors in China-Latin America Relations 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) The development of China-Latin America 
relations is based on six factors, the first five 
positive, the last one negative.  First, China and the 
nations of Latin America are all developing countries. 
Second, they all face the challenges and opportunities 
brought by globalization.  Third, they seek an 
appropriate development path that fits local 
circumstances.  Fourth, they support South-South 
cooperation and North-South dialogue.  Fifth, over the 
last ten years Latin America has pursued multipolar 
diplomacy and regional integration.  The region has 
reached out across the Pacific to countries including 
China.  China has also been reaching out to Latin 
America, which Beijing sees as a "big school" for 
models of economic and social development. 
 
¶7.  (C) Despite various crises in Latin America, the 
region's level of economic and social development is 
higher than China's.  GDP per capita is USD 3,500 - 
4,000 in Latin America, while per capita GDP in China 
is only about USD 1,700, Wang noted.  Sixth, Wang said 
negative factors hindering the development of China- 
Latin America relations include the enormous 
geographic distances which lead to an absence of 
direct flights, large cultural differences between 
China and Latin America, and the lack of mutual 
understanding.  Latin culture is virtually 
inaccessible to Chinese, Wang said. 
 
Poverty Alleviation 
------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) A/S Shannon noted that the most pressing 
problem faced by many Latin American governments is 
poverty reduction.  There is much interest in Latin 
America in learning from China in this area.  Pointing 
to the importance of including all people in economic 
and governmental decision-making, A/S Shannon said 
there is much for Latin America to learn from 
multiracial societies like the United States and South 
Africa.  Improved living standards and continued 
stability will depend on assuring that all people have 
access to opportunities, he said. 
 
U.S. Factor in China-Latin American Relations 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Wang said China's overall objectives for its 
relations with Latin America are to establish a 
political partnership based on equality and mutual 
trust and support, to develop a cooperative economic 
relationship that brings mutual benefits, and to 
deepen cultural exchanges to enhance understanding. 
Alluding to Taiwan's diplomatic relationships in the 
region, Wang noted that twelve of the 33 Latin 
American and Caribbean countries do not have 
diplomatic relations with the PRC.  He said China must 
consider the U.S. factor when establishing relations 
with Latin American countries and cited his hopes that 
the U.S.-China dialogue on Latin America could help 
ensure that the U.S. factor would be positive.  Wang 
asked A/S Shannon to outline U.S. views on China-Latin 
America relations and asked for an evaluation of 
trends in U.S.-Latin America relations. 
 
U.S. Engagement in Latin America 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (C) A/S Shannon said the Western Hemisphere has 
made important strides toward recognizing democracy as 
 
BEIJING 00007112  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
the only legitimate form of government.  This has 
enabled the United States to maintain good relations 
with the vast majority of governments in the region, 
whether they are of the left, right or center.  With 
regard to economic development, the United States 
believes that free markets and economic integration 
will lead to prosperity and has worked to build 
consensus around the commitment to integration. 
Economic growth and democracy are only meaningful, 
however, if all citizens have access to them.  The 
U.S. is encouraging investments in health and 
education that will lead to broader prosperity. 
 
Nontraditional Security Threats 
------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (C) In the security realm, Shannon said, the 
threats to democratic states in the region do not come 
from other democratic states, but from nontraditional 
security threats such as terrorism and drug 
trafficking.  This has significantly altered the 
traditional basis for regional security relationships. 
In a democratic hemisphere with a common understanding 
of security threats and an economy based on free 
trade, the United States could not pretend to 
"control" the region. In this regard, China's interest 
in Latin America comes at a time when we believe that 
increased contact between Latin America and other 
countries is very important.  China's engagement could 
be very positive, provided it respects the region's 
fundamental commitment to democracy. 
 
Cuba 
---- 
 
¶12.  (C) With regard to Cuba, U.S. policy is focused 
on a transition to democracy in Cuba and reintegration 
of a democratic Cuba into the inter-American system. 
A/S Shannon suggested that China could be helpful in 
encouraging Cuba to open up to the world and begin a 
meaningful transition, which will make reintegration 
easier.  Regrettably, recent moves in Cuba have gone 
in the opposite direction, with increased repression, 
economic withdrawal and limits on diplomatic 
engagement. 
 
Venezuela 
--------- 
 
¶13.  (C) A/S Shannon noted that the United States, 
historically, has had close ties with Venezuela, which 
have suffered a setback under President Chavez. 
Chavez seeks to provoke conflict with the United 
States for his own political purposes and has become 
increasingly unreliable and difficult.  The United 
States is continuing to seek ways to improve relations 
with Venezuela, but we are very concerned that Chavez 
is committed to provoking a rupture between the United 
States and other Latin American countries.  We have 
moved to limit our engagement with Venezuela in the 
area of weapons sales and urge that China keep this in 
mind in developing its relations with Venezuela. 
 
Participants 
------------ 
 
¶14.  (U) United States: 
 
WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon 
WHA Senior Executive Assistant John Creamer 
Political Minister Counselor 
Embassy Notetaker 
Interpreter 
Embassy Control Officer 
 
China: 
 
CCID DG Latin America Wang Hua 
CCID Director North America Jiang Lin 
CCID Latin America Research Director Chen Xiangyuan 
Notetaker 
Interpreter 
 
 
BEIJING 00007112  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
Official CV for Wang Hua 
------------------------ 
 
¶15.  (U) Mr. Wang Hua, Han nationality, is the 
Director-General for Latin American Affairs, 
International Department of the Central Committee of 
the CPC (IDCPC), the Council member at the Chinese 
Association for International Understanding (CAIFU), 
and Vice Chairman of Chinese Association for Latin 
American Studies (CALAS). 
 
Born in January 1956 in Jishou city, Hunan Province, 
Mr. Wang studied Spanish and Latin American Literature 
at Guangzhou Foreign Language Institute from December 
1970 to December 1975, and started to work as a 
Spanish interpreter in Foreign Affairs Office of 
Guangdong Province in January 1976.  In 1979, he 
joined the Bureau for Latin American Affairs, IDCPC 
and successively held offices of Deputy Division 
Director and Division Director.  From December 1996 to 
January 1998, he served as Deputy Secretary of the CPC 
County Committee of Binxian County, Shaanxi Province 
on a training-on-the-job program.  From August 1998 to 
August 2003, he was Deputy Director-General for Latin 
American Affairs of IDCPC and became Director-General 
in August 2003. 
 
Since 1981, Mr. Wang has held a concurrent post at 
CAIFU, dedicating himself in the researches on 
political, economic and social issues in Latin America 
and the Caribbean.  From December 1983 to August 1985, 
he was sent by CAIFU as a visiting scholar to College 
of Mexico (El Colegio de Mexico) for advanced studies 
in International Relations.  Since August 1998, he has 
served as CAIFU council member.  In October 2003, he 
was elected as Vice Chairman of CALAS. 
 
Mr. Wang was posted as Second Secretary from March 
1990 to 1992 and First Secretary from April 1994 to 
May 1996 at the Chinese Embassy in Peru. 
 
Mr. Wang is married and has a daughter. 
 
Additional Bio Note 
------------------- 
 
¶16.  (U) Wang made highly positive comments about a 
training program he undertook in September 2005 at 
Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. 
RANDT