VZCZCXRO8106
PP RUEHCN RUEHDBU RUEHGH RUEHPW RUEHSL RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2951 2951020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221020Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6574
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BEIJING 002951
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND S/SRAP ) RAMI SHY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PREL PGOV PTER AF CH PK
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL ON ILLICIT FINANCING COOPERATION AND
AF-PAK CONSULTATIONS
1. (SBU) Summary: China was willing to enhance its
cooperation with the United States to combat illicit
financing and terrorism, MFA Department of Asian Affairs
Deputy Director General Sun Weidong told Treasury DAS Daniel
Glaser October 19. Sun said the Chinese government was still
going through internal deliberations regarding SRAP
Holbrooke's proposal to send a working-level delegation to
Washington for Af-Pak consultations. DAS Glaser outlined the
work of the Illicit Financing Task Force (IFTF) on
Afghanistan and Pakistan and urged China to send a delegation
to Washington for Af-Pak consultations. End Summary.
China Willing to Enhance CT and AML Cooperation
--------------------------------------------- --
2. (SBU) DAS Glaser underscored the importance of combating
illicit financing in Afghanistan and Pakistan and outlined
the work of the five sub-groups of the Treasury-led,
interagency Illicit Financing Task Force (IFTF) on
Afghanistan and Pakistan. DDG Sun responded that China
placed great importance to the issues of anti-money
laundering and counterterrorism, citing China's "active"
support for these issues in the UN and regional
organizations. Sun said China was willing to enhance
cooperation with the United States on anti-money laundering
and counterterrorism. Noting the good relationship between
the U.S. Treasury Department and the People's Bank of China
(PBoC), Sun suggested Treasury maintain close contact with
PBoC on these issues. (COMMENT: DAS Glaser brought up
enhanced cooperation on Af-Pak illicit finance issues with
PBOC Anti-Money Laundering Bureau Director General Tang Xu at
their October 20 meeting, but DG Tang did not show great
interest in working with the U.S. Treasury in the area and
referred Treasury to Chinese law enforcement agencies.)
China Still Studying Proposal for Af-Pak Consultations
--------------------------------------------- ---------
3. (SBU) DAS Glaser urged China to send a delegation to
Washington for working-level consultations on Af-Pak. Sun
said China placed great importance to Ambassador Holbrooke's
proposals for increased U.S.-China cooperation on Af-Pak,
including the proposal for working-level consultations. The
Chinese government was still going through internal
deliberations regarding Ambassador Holbrooke's proposal and
would make a decision after "carefully studying" the
proposal. U.S.-China coordination served our common
interests in stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, Sun said.
HUNTSMAN