US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI398

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000398 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E, AND EAP 
STATE ALSO FOR INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINR, EAID, CH, DJ 
SUBJECT: CHINA'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO DJIBOUTI 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 394 
 
 1. (U) Shen Jiangkuan, China's new envoy in Djibouti, 
presented his credentials March 15 to President Ismail Omar 
Guelleh. In his credentialling remarks, Shen described 
Djibouti as a country which has contributed to the promotion 
of peace and development in the region.  He said Djibouti has 
achieved stability, national unity and economic growth and 
has become an "oasis of peace" in the Horn of Africa.  Shen 
looked ahead to strong Sino-Djiboutian regional cooperation. 
 
2. (U) Responding, President Guelleh assured the people of 
China of Djibouti's unwavering support for a single, 
indivisible China.  He gave China "first place" status in the 
world in terms of economic growth, conferring on China a 
"powerful weight" in international affairs. 
 
3. (U)  BIO-DATA: According to his official biography, Shen 
Jiangkuan was born in 1946.  His diplomatic career began in 
1972 at China's embassy in Paris, where he remained until 
1975.  He was then appointed Attache at the Embassy of China 
in Niger.  From 1983 to 1987, he occupied the position of 
Attache and Third Secretary in Niger and then Deputy Director 
in the Information Department in the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) in China.  From 1987-92, he served as First 
Secretary at China's embassy in Morocco and from 1992-98 was 
 
SIPDIS 
head of Management at the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the 
Department of Diplomacy in the MFA in China.  From 1998 to 
1999, he was Deputy Director of the Department of 
Administration in the MFA.  In 1999, Shen was appointed 
China's Ambassador to Rwanda and in 2004, Ambassador to 
Djibouti.  He is married and has a daughter.  Shen speaks 
only French and Chinese. 
 
4. (U) Comment: Ambassador has met Shen.  He is engaging, 
jovial, and appeared keen to establish a good rapport.  Since 
1983, China has provided substantial economic assistance to 
Djibouti, with high-visibility projects such as stadiums, 
housing, sanitation equipment and even the construction of 
Djibouti's MFA building. (see reftel) End comment. 
RAGSDALE