VZCZCXRO6670
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #5554 2340736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 220736Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1172
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS BEIJING 005554
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR FOR STRATFORD
STATE PASS CEA
STATE PASS EPA WASHDC
TREASURY FOR OASIA/ISA DOHNER, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CH ECON EFIN ETRD EINV SENV
SUBJECT: SECRETARY PAULSON, STATE FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION
AGREE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL LOGGING
SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Summary: On August 1, Secretary Paulson and State
Forestry Administration (SFA) Administrator Jia Zhibang
agreed on the need for the United States and China to
collaborate on sustainable logging issues and asked staff to
follow up at the working level. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Administrator Jia provided a brief introduction to
the responsibilities of SFA, which include planting of trees,
management of forest products, biodiversity, conservation of
endangered wildlife, wetlands conservation and combating
desertification. Administrator Jia boasted of the recent
increase in investment in forest development and the number
of forest conservation programs under SFA. The Chinese
government has invested over 330 billion RMB on forest
conservation projects in 25 provinces, said Jia.
Administrator Jia stated that forest coverage in China has
increased from 8% in 1949 to 18.21% at present. He said
these programs not only benefit local farmers but also
benefit the world's forest resources. Jia explained that
although China has huge forests, it also has huge demand that
can only be satisfied through imports. Jia said that SFA
also supports China's energy efficiency and pollution
reduction goals by working on carbon sequestration and
biofuels.
3. (SBU) Secretary Paulson discussed his visit to Qinghai
Lake to witness China's efforts on desertification, and
referred to his prior experience with conservation and
biodiversity work in China, suggesting that this could be
another area where both sides could share best practices.
Secretary Paulson discussed the role of the SED in bilateral
SIPDIS
relations and the importance of energy, environment and
climate change at the SED. He emphasized the importance of
cooperation in areas such as sustainable logging, and noted
the increased responsibility of the United States and China
as the largest importer and exporter respectively of forest
products in the world. Secretary Paulson said that the
United States and China should lead by example. He
recognized China's work on combating illegal logging within
China, and suggested that if the United States and China work
together to combat illegal logging in other countries, both
would benefit. Secretary Paulson said benefits include:
maintaining old growth forests reduces climate change;
science-based sustainable logging practices maintains
resources; and preventing illegal logging stops other illegal
activities and strengthens border security.
4. (SBU) Administrator Jia agreed with Paulson's points and
said the key issue was to strengthen law enforcement. He
explained domestic enforcement mechanisms, such as
enforcement task forces, certification requirements to log
trees in China and making logging quotas less than the
incremental increase of forest coverage. Secretary Paulson
agreed on the importance of law enforcement but reiterated
that peventing illegal practices in other counties isneeded
to realize the goal. Jia said that he was interested in
further collaboration with Paulson on this issue and the next
steps should be discussion at the working level. Jia said
that officials from SFA's International Cooperation
Department and Planning and Finance Department, both
attending the meeting, would follow up on collaboration
opportunities.
5. (U) Chinese Participants:
Mr. Qu Guilin, SFA Director General International Cooperation
Department
Ms. Zhang Hongyan, SFA Deputy Director General International
Cooperation Department
Ms. Zhang Yanhong, SFA Deputy Director General Planning and
Finance Department
Mr. Huang Xiaoguang, SFA Deputy Director International
Cooperation Department
Mr. Chen Jiawen, SFA Deputy Director Planning and Finance
Department
Mr. Xia Jun, SFA Interpreter
Mr. Huang Minjie, Ministry of Finance, notetaker
6. (U) Secretary Paulson's delegation cleared this cable.
Piccuta