US embassy cable - 05NASSAU166

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2015 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, PINR, CH, BF, China 
SUBJECT: NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO THE BAHAMAS CALLS ON 
AMBASSADOR 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN D. ROOD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1.  (C)  Newly-arrived Chinese Ambassador ((Li)) Yuanming 
paid a courtesy call on Ambassador January 25.  Ambassador Li 
was accompanied by his senior staff members, Li Boheng (DCM); 
Song Zhenguang (First Secretary); and Chen Dayu (Second 
Secretary).  DCM Robert Witajewski also joined in the meeting. 
 
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2.  (C)  Discussing the make-up of the new Administration, 
Ambassador Li asked what differences might be occasioned by 
the Secretary Powell's departure.  Ambassador responded that 
he expected that Secretary Powell's replacement by 
Secretary-designate Rice would mostly result in changes in 
 
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style, not policy, and that he expected the President in the 
next four years of his Administration to stress inclusiveness 
and diplomacy. 
 
3.  (C)  Asked what his goals were as ambassador, Mr. Li 
responded that he (and his colleagues) in the Caribbean would 
be focusing on strengthening trade relations between the 
Caribbean and China.  He stressed that given his country's 
huge population, economic growth and development was the only 
way for the government to improve Chinese living standards. 
Ambassador Li's other priorities include moving forward with 
the construction of a sports stadium that the PRC has donated 
to the Bahamian government, construction of a new chancery on 
Eastern Road, and helping take Bahamian business persons to 
Jamaica for the early-February trade show that will be 
inaugurated by the Chinese Vice President.  Ambassador Li 
indicated that the first two projects were long-term efforts 
that might not be completed during his assignment in Nassau. 
 
4. (C)  Ambassador Li was named to head the PRC mission in 
Nassau following a stint as Consul General in Vancouver, 
Canada.  Ambassador Li is accompanied by his wife.  His son 
will remain in Canada studying business administration in 
Vancouver.  Surprisingly, despite coming from a tour in 
Canada, Ambassador Li's English was halting and his staff had 
to translate several common English phrases into Chinese for 
him. 
ROOD