VZCZCXRO1757
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #1359/01 3121540
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081540Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3888
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0179
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0609
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 001359 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W DENNISON 
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER 
DEPT PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ENRG EPET SOCI NG CH
SUBJECT: A BRIDGE FROM CHINA TO NIGER 
 
REF: A. NIAMEY 1207 
     ¶B. NIAMEY 896 
 
NIAMEY 00001359  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  The November 5, 2007 groundbreaking and laying 
of the first stone for a long-awaited second bridge in the 
capital city of Niamey symbolizes an increasingly closer 
relationship between two friends, the Republic of Niger (RON) 
and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).  Exchanges between 
the PRC Communist Party leadership and leaders in the 
MNSD-Nassara (the GON ruling party), a GON National Assembly 
delegation's visit to counterparts in the PRC Congress, 
professional and student exchanges showcase the expanding 
political and social relationships between the RON and PRC. 
On the economic side, Chinese state enterprises proceed 
persistently with bids for oil and uranium concessions to 
meet the PRC's growing energy needs (Ref A).  Chinese 
engagement with Niger is on the upswing.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  Described as "a memorable, historic event for Niamey", "a 
dream that has become a reality", and the "fulfillment of 
President Tandja's promise", the US$40 million bridge project 
located 2000 meters downstream from the much celebrated John 
¶F. Kennedy Bridge (USAID project completed in 1969) led the 
November 5 and 6 national and local media reports 
(television, radio and print).  The ceremony that highlighted 
GON President Tandja's laying of the first stone opened with 
a cultural group performing a song written for the special 
occasion. GON Cabinet ministers, other senior government 
officials, National Assembly members, the diplomatic corps, 
political party leaders and other special guests were present 
for the event. 
 
¶3. The PRC "bridge" delegation, led by PRC Assistant FM Zhai 
Jun, had been accompanied from Beijing to Niamey by GON 
Foreign Minister Aichatou Mindaoudou.  Minister of Equipment 
Lamido Moumouni Harouna and the Minister of Culture and Arts 
Oumarou Hadary met the delegation upon arrival at Niamey 
airport. 
 
¶4. Construction on the four-lane bridge is scheduled to 
commence in January 2008 with projected completion in three 
years.  The projected dimensions are: 600 meters in length, 
23 meters in width, four 3.5 meter-wide lanes and a 2 
meter-wide median strip to separate both directions across 
the bridge.  There also are plans for 2.5 meter wide 
pedestrian lanes on both sides of the bridge and three 
interchanges with access lanes of 1 kilometer 485 meters in 
length. 
 
¶5. Minister of Equipment Harouna, Mayor Abdoulaye Issa of 
Niamey Commune IV (location for the new bridge) and Governor 
of Niamey Region Tahirou Amadou all had glowing remarks for 
GON President Tandja, citing Tandja's personal engagement and 
perseverance in securing a partner to build a second bridge 
that had been awaited since the early 1980s.  All spoke of 
the "dynamism of the Sino-Nigerien relationship" and 
emphasized that "the new, second bridge" will provide much 
needed relief to the congestion on "the first bridge", a 
contribution that will enhance the economic and commercial 
vitality of Niamey and the corridor leading from Niamey to 
the Burkina Faso border.  Several recent, ongoing and future 
initiatives were cited, such as construction of a new, larger 
PRC Embassy (with completion reportedly months away) to make 
room for a larger Chinese diplomatic/official presence in 
Niger, the completed water treatment plant in Zinder, the 
General Seyni Kountche Sports Stadium (built by the PRC for 
the 2005 Francophonie games and which will be refurbished by 
the Chinese), a housing complex, electrification projects in 
Bilma, microcredits to women groups, a couple hundred 
tractors to farmers, US$1.4 Million for two rural schools (in 
areas to be determined), US$450 Thousand to construct a 
Sino-Nigerien Center to Combat Malaria, a medicine donation 
(valued at US$200 Thousand) to combat malaria over a two-year 
period, agreement to increase from 190 to 442 duty-free 
categories of potential exports of Nigerien goods to China 
and cancellation of approximtely US$12 Million debt for 
Niger. 
 
¶6.  Head o the PRC delegation, Assistant FM Zhai Jun, was 
granted separate meetings with GON President Tandja and Prime 
Minister Oumarou during the November 4-6, 2007 visit. 
Examples of other exchanges over the past 12 months include: 
30 medical doctors on year-long rotations to provide health 
services in local hospitals; 27 and 70 Nigerien students to 
China, respectively, in 2006 and 2007; a September 2007 visit 
 
NIAMEY 00001359  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
from a Chinese Communist Party delegation to meet with 
MNSD-Nassara Party leader Hama Amadou and party members (with 
a pledge to construct a party headquarters); a visit by GON 
National Assembly President Mahamane Ousmane to the PRC 
Congress in September 2007 (at which he secured a pledge for 
US$300 Thousand in furnishings for the National Assembly); a 
visit from PRC Assistant Minister of Commerce Wang Chao in 
December 2006 and GON President Tandja-led delegation to 
participate in the November 2006 Beijing Summit on 
Sino-African Cooperation.  (Note: Tandja's son is a 
commercial officer at the Nigerien Embassy in Beijing.  End 
note.) 
 
¶7.  The PRC appetite to prospect in Niger's extractive 
industries has not been curbed by the Mouvement des Nigeriens 
pour la Justice (MNJ) July 2007 kidnapping in Agadez of a 
Chinese mining executive from Agelik, an affiliate of the 
China Nuclear Engineering and Construction firm (Ref B).  The 
MNJ has accused the Chinese firm of not hiring enough 
Nigeriens from the local region and has faulted the firm for 
damaging the environment.  Chinese workers temporarily have 
been recalled to Niamey subsequent to the kidnapping and in 
light of threats from MNJ to strike Chinese operations in the 
mining areas, but it's unlikely the Chinese will pull out of 
the extractive mining business.  Despite the negative media 
reports on Chinese hiring practices and lack of attention to 
environmental concerns (associated with health implications 
for the local population in the mining regions), recent wide 
coverage of the Chinese "unconditional" goodwill resonates 
well with the majority of Nigeriens.  In the eyes of many 
Nigeriens. Moreover, infrastructure projects that create 
landmarks that will be seen on the Nigerien landscape for 
many years to come (such as, a bridge, stadium, water plant 
or malaria center) may ultimately define PRC-GON partnership. 
 
ALLEN