Cablegate: Chinese Delegation Plans to Attend Dec. 7-8

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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLGB #0788 3290628
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250628Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI
TO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6448
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0032
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0316

UNCLAS KIGALI 000788

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR EAID RW
SUBJECT: CHINESE DELEGATION PLANS TO ATTEND DEC. 7-8
RWANDAN AGRICULTURE MEETING

1. (SBU) During a November 24 meeting with USAID econoff,
Chinese Embassy economic counselor Wang Qin said a delegation
consisting of agriculture experts and Chinese Export-Import
Bank representatives would attend the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) conference scheduled
for December 7-8 in Kigali.

2. (SBU) Wan said that part of the recent China-Africa summit
in Egypt dealt with agriculture, but that the Chinese
government does not have plans to support agriculture in
Rwanda as much as it does in other countries because Rwanda's
hilly terrain makes farming very difficult. Chinese aid is
accordingly modest, and includes rice demonstration plots and
research, as well as assistance with bamboo handicraft
production.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: Although President Kagame has made it clear
he seeks closer economic ties with China as part of Rwanda's
overall development strategy, Chinese-Rwandan cooperation on
agriculture remains quite limited. END COMMENT.
SYMINGTON

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