US embassy cable - 04PARAMARIBO545

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, SOCI, CH, NS, CHINA 
SUBJECT: CHINESE DELEGATION VISIT TO SURINAME: JUST REGULAR 
BUSINESS? 
 
REFS: (A) PARAMARIBO 307, (B) 03 PARAMARIBO 421, (C) 
PARAMARIBO 270 
 
1.  In a July 22 conversation with the Embassy, Political 
Officer Yumin Zhao of the Chinese Embassy downplayed a 
recent visit by a delegation from the Peoples National 
Congress to Suriname.  Zhao stressed that the July 6-9 
visit was part of a regular orientation of Chinese 
government officials to the region -Q Suriname was the 
delegations' first stop on an introductory tour to seven 
countries. He added that the visit did not break new 
ground. 
 
2.  According to media reports, the delegation discussed 
the warm relations enjoyed between Suriname and China with 
Ram Sardjoe (Speaker of the National Assembly), Marie 
Levens (Foreign Affairs Minister), and Jules Ajodhia (then 
Acting President).  Issues covered included the 
controversial Patamacca palm oil project (See Ref A), a 
road paving program, construction of a new Foreign Affairs 
building, the immigration and trafficking of Chinese to 
Suriname, and a reported $18 million soft loan promised to 
President Ronald Venetiaan during his state visit to China 
last year.  According to Minister of Trade and Industry 
Michael Jong Tjien Fa, the loan is earmarked for the 
construction of 1,000 houses in districts Wanica 
(population about 90,000) and Commewijne (population about 
60,000) districts.  In addition, Jong Tjien Fa credited the 
good relations between Suriname and China to the Chinese 
diaspora in Suriname -- Chinese first came to Suriname more 
than 150 years ago.  For his part, Jiang Zhenghua, the head 
of the Chinese delegation, thanked Suriname for its support 
of the "one China" policy. (See Refs B and C for further 
details about Suriname-China relations.) 
 
3.  When asked for his take on the visit, President Ronald 
Venetiaan's personal secretary Hesdy Pigot dismissed rumors 
that Suriname will permit the immigration of a significant 
number of Chinese nationals.  He emphasized that only the 
Chinese companies in charge of the proposed housing project 
will be able to bring in the necessary workers.  These 
workers will return to China once the project is completed, 
he said.  (Note:  A credible source confided to the Embassy 
that, according to National Assembly members working on the 
state visit, the delegation explored the possible 
immigration of thousands of Chinese to Suriname.  Embassy 
has been unable to date to confirm whether this in fact 
occurred.  End Note) 
 
BARNES 
 
 
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