Cablegate: Media Reaction: North Korea, Sco, Rmb Appreciation

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RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2882 2880759
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150759Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6458
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 002882

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007)
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH

SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, SCO, RMB APPRECIATION

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Editorial Quotes
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1. NORTH KOREA

"U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Campbell visits China to find a
path for Obama to resume Six-Party Talks"

The Shanghai-based Shanghai Media Group (SMG) publication, China
Business News (Diyi Caijing)(02/03)(pg A16): "On whether the U.S. is
in favor of an "East Asian Community" excluding the United States,
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Campbell said that in this regard,
the United States has a set of principles; first of all, the United
States should be involved in any critical dialogues relating to
security, economic and business issues. For the Six-Party Talks,
Campbell said that China believes North Korea will agree to return
to the Six-Party Talks process, but is still not sure how firm North
Korea's commitment is. The U.S. needs to further test North Korea's
stance. Campbell insisted the U.S. will not agree to have direct
talks with North Korea if the promises of prior Six-Party Talks
agreements cannot be met. He also mentioned the possibility of
U.S.-North Korea bilateral talks which the U.S. could initiate and
which could possibly accelerate the resumption of the Six-Party
Talks. China and the U.S. have reached a consensus that the
Six-Party Talks framework is critical, and within this framework any
form of bilateral, trilateral or any other forms of talks are
possible."

2. SCO

"Create a useful Shanghai Cooperation Organization"

Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper
21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(10/15)(pg 2):
"In the past, China stood firmly on the principle of a consistent
stance through negotiations with other members of the organization,
sometimes sacrificing its own interests to go along with the
majority. However, continuing in this way, China's opinion can
hardly been properly reflected by the organization and a common view
about its future development can hardly be reached between the
member countries. The fact that China has adjusted its foreign
policy to meet the challenges of the financial crisis can be seen in
the recent SCO sessions. Experts believe China is like the chief
violin for the organization now and sets the basic tone for its
future development. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as the
only international organization in which China plays a dominant
role, serves also as an important reference for China to further
integrate itself in and participate in the construction of the
international system. It is the best testing ground for China to
implement its multilateral diplomacy."

3. RMB APPRECIATION

"The global economic recovery should first allow the U.S. dollar to
stabilize"

The official Communist Party international news publication Global
Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(pg 15): "A stable RMB is the primary issue
for China right now although U.S. and European trade protectionism
sentiment has been rising. Whenever a western economy deteriorates,
the RMB exchange rate will always become a target of protectionists.
The attempt to weaken the competitiveness of Chinese products
through altering the exchange rate, increasing exports to China and
decreasing imports from China is simply disguised trade
protectionism. Currently, what the U.S. needs to do is stabilize
the U.S. dollar and take responsibility for the global economic
recovery. In fact, China has been actively promoting the reform of
the marketing of RMB exchange rates. Currently if China does not
stabilize the RMB, the West's plot to let China pay the cost of the
financial crisis will become a reality. While the global economy is
still in recession, the U.S. should strengthen economic cooperation
and make great efforts to stabilize the U.S. dollar, the main
reserve currency, and avoid putting further pressure on the RMB
exchange rate."

HUNTSMAN

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