VZCZCXRO0434
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1379 1412307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 212307Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4105
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3800
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0750
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 4762
RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 0981
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 4224
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0105
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS BEIJING 001379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH DA BM CB LA VM
 
SUBJECT: MAY 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: Ma Ying-jeou Stop-Over, 
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Statement, Chinese Projects on 
Mekong 
 
¶1. Key points at the May 21 MFA press briefing: 
 
-- China continues to oppose official exchanges between other 
countries and the Taiwan authorities in accordance with the one 
China principle, and that position is unchanged. 
 
-- A statement on the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference posted on 
the National Development and Reform Commission website makes clear 
that China is making efforts to address climate change, and in the 
statement China calls on developed countries to reduce emissions by 
40% below 1990 levels by 2020. 
 
-- China "attaches great importance" to rivers that cross 
international borders, and pays "equal attention" to development and 
protection. 
 
Ma Ying-jeou U.S. Stop-Over 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. Asked at the May 21 regular MFA press briefing about Taiwan 
President Ma Ying-jeou's planned U.S. stop-over in connection with a 
visit to Central America, MFA spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu said that the 
Chinese government continues to oppose official exchanges between 
other countries and the Taiwan authorities in accordance with the 
one China principle, and that position is unchanged. 
 
UN Conference on Climate Change 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. The Chinese government has released a statement on the UN Climate 
Change Conference in Copenhagen, posted on the National Development 
and Reform Commission website called "Implementation of the Bali 
Roadmap," Ma said.  The statement makes clear that China is "making 
efforts to address climate change" and further enhance cooperative 
efforts through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
Change, the spokesperson continued.  In the statement, China calls 
on developed countries to reduce emissions by 40% below 1990 levels 
by 2020. 
 
Pollution in Southern Chinese Rivers 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. In response to a question about a UN environmental report on the 
effects of Chinese dam-building projects on other countries 
bordering the Mekong, Ma stated that the Chinese government 
"attaches great importance" to rivers that cross international 
borders, and pays "equal attention" to development and protection. 
Ma said "relevant offices" take environmental impact seriously, and 
have set up a series of seminars and workshops.  The spokesperson 
also noted that that China has given "comprehensive consideration" 
to various aspects of Salween River development. 
 
WEINSTEIN