VZCZCXRO0533
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0551/01 2111707
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301707Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000551 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PD, EAP/CM, EAP/J, AND EAP/K 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID WA 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV SOCI CH KN JA NG
SUBJECT: SINO-NIGERIEN COOPERATION; PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) 
FRANCOPHONE AFRICA JOURNALISTS' SEMINAR 
 
Ref:  a) July 24 and 27, 2009 Le Sahel News Publication, b) 08 
Niamey 1066, c) 08 Niamey 958, d) 08 Niamey 628/606, e) 08 Niamey 
452, f) 07 Niamey 1359 
 
NIAMEY 00000551  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  Le Sahel (the state newspaper) prominently featured 
reports on the Sino-Nigerien and Sino-African partnerships this past 
week.  Journalist Saidou Daoura filed a front-page image of Beijing 
with the headline "The Marvels of the Middle Empire" together with a 
two-page story and a full-page interview with the Nigerien 
Ambassador to the PRC Boubakar Adamou (also accredited to Japan and 
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)), in Le Sahel's 
July 24 edition.  He was one among a group of Francophone African 
journalists invited to the PRC for a 10-day (June 29-July 14, 2009) 
seminar, organized by the PRC Diplomacy Institute and financed by 
the PRC Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs. 
 
¶2. An update on the Chinese construction of Niger's first oil 
refinery, located in the region of Zinder (approximately 500 miles 
east of the capital city of Niamey), was featured in Le Sahel's July 
27 edition. 
End summary. 
 
¶3. Comment:  These reports have appeared in the state newspaper at a 
time when Nigerien President Tandja reacted negatively to 
international partners' demarches to him to express concern about 
the current political environment in Niger.  End comment. 
 
------------------- 
RON-PRC Cooperation 
------------------- 
¶4. Ambassador Adamou's interview noted that RON-PRC diplomatic 
relations began 35 years ago, on July 20, 1974.  He stated that the 
Government of Niger appointed Idrissa Harouna as its first 
ambassador to China in 1978.  He added that currently seven 
officials are assigned to the Nigerien Embassy in the PRC.  Japan 
and North Korea (DPRK) also fall under the Embassy's jurisdiction. 
He estimated some 300 Nigerien expatriates live and work in the PRC. 
 Amadou emphasized the growing interest among Nigerien business 
persons to diversify their partners and expand their markets, 
resulting in increased efforts to sell products on the Chinese 
market. 
 
¶5. Adamou stressed that the RON's engagements with the PRC are 
consistent with the global framework of expanding relations between 
the PRC and the African continent since the creation of the Forum on 
Sino-African Cooperation in 2000.  He stated that South-South 
cooperation has included increased loans and credits, more 
development assistance in lieu of direct aid, the creation of a 
Sino-African development fund, cancellation of debt and the opening 
of the Chinese market to African products.  Labeling Sino-Nigerien 
cooperation one of Niger's most fruitful partnerships, he lauded 
several ongoing development projects in Niger, primarily in the 
areas of agriculture, hydrology, environment and infrastructure.  He 
spoke of the many high-level visits that have contributed to the 
deepening of RON-PRC relations, including Nigerien President Mamadou 
Tandja's attendance at the Beijing Summit in November 2006, 
subsequent GON officials' visit to China (ref c) and high-level 
Chinese visits to Niger. 
 
--------------------- 
RON-Japan Cooperation 
--------------------- 
¶6. Amadou closed the interview with a discussion of the RON-Japan 
bilateral relationship and engagements.  He estimated that there are 
about a dozen Nigerien expatriates who live in Japan.  He 
highlighted RON Prime Minister Seini Oumarou's participation in the 
4th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD 4) 
held in Yokohama in May 2008.  He stated that the Yokohama Plan of 
Action, as it relates to the RON, covers technical and non-repayable 
financial cooperation in the areas of education, rural development, 
health and environment.  Phase two of an education project, 
Education for All, focuses on improving teaching of science and 
mathematics in secondary school and includes construction of primary 
and secondary schools.  Other projects relate to food security, 
elimination of  Guinea worm, providing potable water, and fighting 
 
NIAMEY 00000551  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
malaria and polio.  He added that Niger is one of four beneficiary 
countries in Japan's recently launched "Cool Earth Promotion 
Program"; the other three beneficiary countries are Senegal, 
Mozambique and Ethiopia. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Oil Refinery Project Progress Report 
------------------------------------ 
¶7. Nigerien President Tandja placed the first stone for the oil 
refinery project in October 2008 (ref a) with a completion time 
projected to be three years (2011).  According to the Zinder 
Refinery Company (SORAZ) Vice President Mai Manga Boukar and the 
Chinese partners, the project is moving forward, though slowed as a 
result of the three-month delivery time for materials ordered from 
China.  It was noted that the nearest port is at least 2000 
kilometers from Zinder.  The other problem has been water; a program 
is in place to complete 22 to 24 wells to meet water needs estimated 
at 7000 cubic meters of water per day.  The project managers expect 
the refinery will begin operation in 2011 and project production at 
20,000 barrels of oil a day, equivalent to one million tons of oil 
annually.  Reportedly, 60 percent of the oil production will be used 
for domestic consumption; the remaining 40 percent of oil produced 
would be available for export.  Once the refinery is fully 
operational, employment is anticipated for 600 direct hires, as well 
as another 3000 persons affiliated with subcontracts.  The company 
has indicated that 50-plus Nigerien youth will benefit from training 
on the project beginning in October 2009. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Francophone African Journalists' 10-day PRC Seminar 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶8. Nigerien journalist Saidou Daoura reported that the seminar 
themes addressed China's history, culture and economy, Sino-African 
relations, ethnic minority autonomy and the media.  Beijing and 
Gansu Province served, respectively, as venues for six-day and 
four-day visits.  Tourist spots visited included Olympic Stadium, 
the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Heavenly Temple, to name a 
few.  Reportedly, much attention was focused on China's Africa 
policy to maintain an equal partnership in adherence to five 
principles of peaceful coexistence, respect the African nations' 
free choice of path to development and support African nations' 
efforts to increase their power. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Chinese Projects and Loans Reflect Value of UN Vote 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶9. The journalists were advised that the PRC Government has 
initiated 800 projects and activated some 100 preferential loans for 
African countries.  Citing the 1860-kilometer Tanzania-Zambia 
railway as a project completed with PRC assistance, Chinese 
officials informed the journalists their government "would never 
forget that in 1971 it was the support of African nations and other 
developing countries that permitted the PRC to regain its seat in 
the United Nations."  According to Saidou Daoura, African nations 
should draw lessons from PRC's development of the last 30 years. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
Details on Increasing China-Africa Trade and Investment 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶10. The following is a snapshot of trade between the PRC and Africa 
from 1950 to the present, as reported to (and repeated by) the 
journalists: 
 
1950 12 million US dollars 
2000 10+ billion US dollars 
2007 73+ billion US dollars (up 32 percent from 2006) 
2008 106+ billion US dollars (up 45 percent from 2007) 
 
¶11. At the end of 2007, PRC investment in Africa was reported as 
14.6 billion US dollars in 48 countries, in the areas of 
agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, textiles, energy, 
infrastructure, hydrology and electricity. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Chinese High-Level Visits, Cultural Projects Abound 
 
NIAMEY 00000551  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶12. Also, in 2007, the PRC signed with African nations 66 cultural 
agreements, completed 164 cultural projects, opened cultural centers 
in Benin, Mauritius and Egypt.  Finally, in 2008, the PRC Government 
reportedly awarded 20,000 scholarships for African students.  It was 
noted that Chinese President Hu Jintao made four trips to Africa 
(2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009), National Assembly President Wu Bangguo 
traveled to Africa three times (2004, 2007 and 2008), Prime Minister 
Wen Jiabao visited in 2006, President of the National Committee for 
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin 
visited in 2007.  Since 1991, the PRC Ministers of Foreign Affairs 
have most often made Africa their first trip abroad. 
 
¶13. The PRC continues to make inroads on the African continent, even 
in landlocked Niger. 
 
ALLEN