VZCZCXRO5848
PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2720 1952300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132300Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8560
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2260
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS BEIJING 002720 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/CM 
STATE FOR IO/T CHRIS WOOD 
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR TIM STRATFORD; ANN MAIN 
USDOC FOR ITA DAS IRA KASOFF; TOM DYCUS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC ECON ETRD WTRO CH
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON MAJOR ISSUES AT 
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (UPU) CONGRESS 
 
REF: STATE 66814 
 
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR 
INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.  PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request (please see para 7). 
 
¶2. (SBU) On June 25, post delivered reftel diplomatic 
note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).  On 
June 30, post faxed reftel points to MFA and faxed 
reftel points and a copy of the diplomatic note to the 
State Postal Bureau (SPB), which is responsible for 
postal affairs.  SPB informed post that China's trade 
ministry - the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) - would 
not be a part of the Chinese delegation to the UPU 
Congress.  On July 3, MFA informed post that an MFA 
meeting would not be necessary as SPB is the lead 
Chinese Government agency for UPU-related activities. 
 
¶3. (U) On July 8, ECON Deputy MinsCouns (D/MC) and 
econoff met with SPB Department of External Affairs 
Deputy Director-General Lin Hongliang, Division of 
International Cooperation Director Han Shuangming and 
Division of International Cooperation Assistant 
Consultant Ms. Fu Xiaoli to seek support for major 
United States priorities at the upcoming UPU 
quadrennial Congress scheduled to be held from July 23 
- August 12 in Geneva. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Lin told emboffs that China advocates "mutual 
support" for the United States and Chinese candidacies 
to the UPU Council of Administration (CA) and Postal 
Operations Council (POC).  He also said the United 
States and China are both very important to the CA and 
POC because the United States represents developed 
countries and China represents the concerns of 
developing countries.  Lin requested United States 
support for China's candidate for the position of 
Deputy Director General of the UPU International 
Bureau. 
 
¶5. (SBU) On the UPU mission statement, SPB noted that 
the core UPU mission statement should not be changed, 
but advocated that appropriate wording should be found 
to reflect changes in global economic developments. 
SPB also said an increase in the budget would have 
negative consequences, agreed with having zero growth, 
but refrained from using the word "nominal," even when 
pressed on the point.  Lastly, SPB did not oppose 
extrabudgetary groups but said their work program 
should not conflict with activities of the UPU 
Secretariat. 
 
¶6. (U) Additionally, SPB informed post that SPB 
Administrator Mr. Ma Junsheng would lead the Chinese 
delegation, which will include over 30 people. 
Individuals from the postal group company of Hong Kong 
and Macao will join the delegation as well as an 
official from China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) and an 
MFA official attached to China's diplomatic mission in 
Geneva. 
 
¶7. (U) Action request: SPB has asked for information 
about the United States delegation.  (Comment: It is 
possible that the Chinese delegation may want to 
interact with the United States delegation at 
anticipated events or receptions during the Congress. 
End Comment).