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O 221024Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8191
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1565
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0102
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0490
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3139
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4353
RUEHPA/AMEMBASSY PRAIA 0010
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0051
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003466 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ETRD SU UK CV DR IN PE GM
SUBJECT: MAY 22 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SED, INDIAN GENERAL'S 
VISIT, HUMAN RIGHTS, SUDAN, VISITS 
 
 
BEIJING 00003466  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Key points at the May 22 MFA Press Conference were: 
 
-- Jiang outlined Vice Premier Wu Yi's planned schedule of 
meetings, including with the President, during the upcoming 
SED session in Washington. 
 
-- The visit by India's Army Chief of Staff aims to improve 
bilateral military ties. 
 
-- The May 15 EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was "positive" 
and "constructive." 
 
-- The Spokeswoman had no information in response to 
questions about a visit by EAP A/S Hill, the detention of 
AIDS activists Hu Jia and Zeng Jinyan, an investigation into 
the death of AmCit Darren Russell or reports that 
Chinese-made toothpaste in the Dominican Republic was found 
to be contaminated. 
 
-- Reporters asked further questions about dam construction 
in Sudan, British FM Beckett's comments on Hong Kong's 
reforms and about a possible China-Peru FTA, with little 
response. 
 
-- Germany's President and Thailand's Prime Minister will 
visit China separately in the next ten days. 
 
SED: Wu Yi's Meeting Schedule Announced 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  At the May 22 regular press briefing, MFA Spokeswoman 
Jiang Yu confirmed that Vice Premier Wu Yi will meet 
President Bush, Secretary Paulson, senior Commerce Department 
officials and members of both houses of Congress during the 
second Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Washington.  She 
intends to discuss strategic and hot-topic issues, including 
energy, the environment, balanced economic development and 
science and technology innovation.  Madame Wu hopes to 
increase Congress's understanding of China and point out the 
structural nature of current trade disptes.  To effectively 
solve problems, non-economic factors should be excluded from 
the Talks, Jiang said, adding that China hopes the Unites 
States will use its strategic advantage to increase mutual 
trust and abolish the ban on high-tech exports. 
 
Indian General's Visit to Improve Military Ties 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3.  India's Army Chief of Staff General Singh is currently 
visiting China where he is meeting with government and 
military leaders, stated Jiang.  She added that China hopes 
the visit will further develop bilateral military relations, 
continue the trend of greater exchanges and promote the two 
countries' friendly strategic partnership. 
 
Human Rights: EU Dialogue, No Info on Hu Jia 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The 23rd round of the China-EU Human Rights Dialogue was 
held in Berlin May 15-16 in a constructive nature and with 
positive achievements, Jiang said.  She stated that parties 
agreed to maintain momentum and increase cooperation and that 
the 24th round will be held in Beijing later this year. 
Asked for details on the detention of AIDS activist Hu Jia 
and his wife Zeng Jinyan, the spokeswoman responded that she 
had no information on this specific case. 
 
A/S Hill to Visit China? 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  Asked if EAP A/S Hill will visit China considering he is 
currently traveling in Southeast Asia, the spokeswoman said 
she had no information, but would inquire on the matter. 
 
MFA: No Details on AmCit Death in Guangdong 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Asked if there would be an investigation following recent 
findings that the 2005 death of American citizen Darren 
Russell in Guangdong was not an accident as previously 
claimed by local authorities, Jiang said the she was unaware 
of the case and referred questions to the Guangdong 
authorities. 
 
BEIJING 00003466  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
More Tainted Chinese Exports in Latin America 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  Jiang had no details regarding reports of Chinese-made 
toothpaste in the Dominican Republic tainted with diethylene 
glycol.  She reiterated that China seeks to strengthen and 
improve regulations on quarantine and exports and enhance 
international cooperation and dialogue on such issues. 
 
Africa Cooperation: Dams and Aid to Sudan 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  Responding to a question about recent calls from foreign 
NGOs for China to reassess its policies in Africa that noted 
the environmental impact of a dam being built in Sudan, Jiang 
maintained that issues between the people and government of 
African nations are to be addressed internally by those 
nations themselves.  In a lengthy description of 
China-African cooperation, she said the dam project in Sudan 
is not being undertaken by the Chinese Government, but rather 
by a Chinese enterprise that won a contract through 
international bidding.  Such projects consider the 
environmental effect on local communities and will benefit 
the long-term livelihood of African people, said Jiang, 
adding that China requires enterprises to strictly abide by 
relevant laws and regulations in African nations.  She 
reiterated that financial assistance to Africa is modest, 
comes with no political strings attached and is tailored to 
the development needs of these nations. 
 
HK Legal Reform Will Develop Gradually 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  British FM Beckett met with Premier Wen and FM Yang 
during her visit to China, promoting high level exchange and 
strategic dialogue while developing the two countries' 
strategic partnership, replied Jiang when asked about 
Beckett's comments on Hong Kong.  Over the past ten years 
China has implemented the "one country, two systems" policy 
allowing Hong Kong self-government.  Legal reform in the 
region will develop gradually to maintain the prosperity and 
stability of Hong Kong, said the spokeswoman. 
 
China-Peru Free Trade Agreement? 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  China has conducted extensive and friendly cooperation 
with Latin American countries, responded Jiang to a question 
on whether China and Peru were soon to begin negotiations on 
a free trade agreement.  Jiang referred specific questions on 
the issue to the Ministry of Commerce. 
 
Visits: Germany, Cape Verde, Thailand, FM Yang to ASEM 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶11.  German President Horst Koehler will visit May 23-26 to 
mark the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties, 
said Jiang when asked for comment by German press.  President 
Koehler will travel to Kunming on the 23rd, meet with 
President Hu, PM Wen and CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin on the 
24-25th in Beijing and then visit Shanghai.  The goals of the 
visit are to narrow differences, further bilateral 
cooperation and increase coordination on international 
issues, said Jiang. 
 
¶12.  FM Yang will participate in the China-EU Foreign 
Ministers Meeting and the 8th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers 
Meeting in Hamburg, Germany, May 28-29.  At the invitation of 
PM Wen, Thailand PM Surayud will pay an official visit from 
My 28-31.  Cape Verde FM Borges will meet with FM Yang 
during an official visit soon, she added. 
PICCUTA