VZCZCXRO8198
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0326/01 0990614
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090614Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3850
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0097
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0004
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 000326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/S 
PRETORIA FOR USDA/FAS 
STATE PASS USAID FOR AFR/SA (ELOKEN, IMACNAIRN), HCHA/FFP 
(GEILERTS) EGANT/AG (JRTHOMAS) 
USDA FOR FAS/ITP (SHEIKH) 
EMBASSY GABORONE FOR USAID (JBROWN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID EAGR ETRD AO
SUBJECT: U.S. AND CHINESE AMBASSADORS EXPLORE BILATERAL 
AGRICULTURE ASSISTANCE IN ANGOLA 
 
REF: A. STATE 39116 
     ¶B. LUANDA 311 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  On April 3, 2007, the Chinese and U.S. 
Ambassadors met to discuss potential areas for coordinated 
agricultural assistance to Angola.  They reviewed their 
countries, respective engagement in agricultural assistance 
in Angola in an effort to find synergies for future 
cooperation.  The Ambassadors agreed to identify a small, 
well-focused project with meaningful contributions from each 
country, and acceptable to the GRA.  Chinese agricultural aid 
to Angola has been limited, until now, to visits by experts 
and gifts of agricultural machinery, training and tools.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On April 3, 2007, Ambassador Efird met with Chinese 
Ambassador to Angola Zhang Beisan at his residence to discuss 
potential areas of cooperation to assist Angola,s 
agricultural sector.  The meeting followed informal 
discussions the week of March 27 at social events.  During 
those encounters the Chinese Ambassador confirmed that he had 
received reports from Beijing on the U.S. suggestion for 
agricultural bilateral cooperation in Angola.  Besides 
Ambassador Zhang, the Chinese Economic-Commercial Counselor 
and a translator attended the meeting.  USAID Deputy General 
Development Officer, Economic-Commercial Assistant and 
Econ-Commercial officer (notetaker) joined the Ambassador at 
the Chinese Residence. 
 
------------------------------------- 
U.S. Agricultural Assistance Programs 
------------------------------------- 
¶3. (U) USAID Deputy General Development Officer briefly 
introduced USAID,s programs in Angola, explaining that USAID 
implements its projects through NGOs, private corporations, 
or universities.  A USD 1 million per annum agricultural 
development and finance program is currently exploring 
marketing of bananas, potatoes, vegetables and coffee.  The 
first banana project was launched this year, and market 
research on potatoes has begun.  Work on vegetables and 
coffee will follow.  Aidoff mentioned a number of areas where 
China might be able to offer valuable assistance, such as 
providing agronomists, advice on crops adapted to humidity 
and heat, irrigation, and providing agricultural equipment. 
Embassy also gave Zhang copies of Embassy-drafted papers 
suggesting potential areas for coordinated work.  Zhang said 
he and his staff would study the papers. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Chinese Agricultural Aid to Angola 
---------------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Zhang told us that China,s aid to 
Angola, up until now, has been limited to sending 
agricultural tools and machinery, several visits by 
agricultural experts who have studied the agricultural 
potential of various provinces, and providing training for 
employees in the Ministry of Agriculture.  Angolans do not 
have a highly-developed agricultural economy and that 
complicates Chinese efforts to extend assistance, Zhang 
continued.  Efird concurred, suggesting that Angola fell 30 
years behind during its civil war.  She said that during her 
recent meeting with Minister of Agriculture Afonso Pedro 
Canga (Reftel B), they identified Angola,s global 
agricultural challenges as:  commercialization of 
agriculture; seed production; increased use of fertilizer, 
and demining, in order to make more land available for 
agriculture. 
 
----------------- 
Finding a Project 
----------------- 
¶5. (U) Ambassador Zhang proposed that the two embassies 
together identify a project and hoped that a successful 
bilateral project in Angola might serve as a model for 
U.S.-Chinese cooperation in other parts of Africa.  Both 
ambassadors agreed that they should start with a small, 
well-focused project with meaningful participation from both 
nations, especially because funding issues have yet to be 
addressed.  Ambassador Efird envisioned a Chinese-American 
project jointly presented to the GRA for its buy-in. 
 
¶6. (U) Ambassador Efird also referenced the fact that the 
 
LUANDA 00000326  002 OF 002 
 
 
petroleum companies working in Angola carry-out social 
responsibility programs, and cited the work that a few of the 
US petroleum giants already conduct in the field of 
agriculture.  She suggested that another possibility for 
US-Chinese cooperation would be for one of USAID,s corporate 
partners to design a project jointly with Chinese oil company 
Sinopec.  The two corporations could then jointly present 
their project to the Angolan petroleum parastatal Sonangol 
for its approval.  (Note: Sonangol must review and approve 
all petroleum company social responsibility projects.  End 
note.)  Ambassador Efird also suggested a meeting between 
Embassy staff and the Chinese agricultural team visiting in 
April in order to identify areas where both countries can 
work together.  Zhang said he would consider all the 
suggestions and respond to the Embassy.  He said this kind of 
trilateral cooperation (U.S.-China-Angola) was an innovation 
but one that could be a model in Africa if successful. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
¶7. (SBU) Although Chinese agricultural assistance has been 
less structured than U.S. assistance, Ambassador Zhang seemed 
prepared to work with the U.S. side to create a small program 
suitable for meaningful contributions by both sides.  He did 
not indicate a timetable, although he clearly plans to 
consult with his MFA before meeting with us again. 
EFIRD