Cablegate: Formal Mfa Reply On Arf 1540 Seminar

VZCZCXRO3470
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #8886 2500931
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070931Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6270
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 3845
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 8738

UNCLAS BEIJING 018886

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/RSP, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM CH
SUBJECT: FORMAL MFA REPLY ON ARF 1540 SEMINAR

REF: A. STATE 135735
B. BEIJING 8212

1. (SBU) China formalized its inability to co-host an ASEAN
Regional Forum Seminar (ARF) on UNSCR 1540 in a September 7
letter delivered to the Embassy. Full text of the letter to
Blair Hall, EAP/RSP Director, is contained para 2. The
letter was faxed separately to EAP/CM. China would likely
participate in the 1540 seminar, as it does in all other ARF
activities, MFA Asian Affairs Department Regional Security
Division official Ning Bo told poloff.

2. (SBU) The letter, dated September 7, 2006, reads in full:
BEGIN TEXT

Mr. Hall,

Thank you for your letter dated August 30, 2006.

We appreciate the repeated efforts of your government to
invite China to co-chair the ARF Seminar on the
Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
Though we are not able to co-chair it this time due to
various reasons, including budgetary restraints and schedule
arrangement, we are willing to continue the exchange and
coordination with all ARF participants on security issues
including non-proliferation.

Looking forward to our further contacts and cooperation.

Sincerely, Ma Jia
Director, Regional Security Division
Asia Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
People's Republic of China
END TEXT.
RANDT

© Scoop Media