电文中谈到时任成都市委书记的李春城，因在2008年四川大地震后，成都豪华的新行政中心揭幕，招致总理温家宝的愤怒。
电文中说，数名联系广泛的成都当地商人向我们证实，成都市委书记李春城正限于麻烦之中。李春城自2003年以来，坐上成都市委书记职务，他被广泛认为是
成都建设热潮背后的主要力量之一。他最青睐的项目 –
成都新的行政中心完工的时机，让他很不走运。这庞大复杂的“鸟巢式”外墙行政中心，占地37万平方米，据报道，耗资超过1.76亿美元(译者注：12亿元
人民币)。
当成都市的工作人员开始往里搬迁时，之前刚刚发生了5月12日的四川大地震，当地居民正处于悲痛和震惊之中，这造成了形象问题。
真正“伤到”李春城的，一位消息人士指出，是总理温家宝造访了这一新的政府总部。此前，温家宝刚刚视察了被地震袭击最严重的灾区，见到被从废墟中拉出来
的死难者遗体和伤者。该消息人士描述了温家宝是如何厌恶地离开该行政中心，他在里面待了不到三分钟。该人士评论说，至少“庆幸”的是，温家宝没有走进去那
么远，看到李春城自己奢华的办公室。
据一名消息人士说，虽然这看来不会令李春城被免职，他当然也不会得到他认为已姗姗来迟的晋升。
来源：看中国| Reference id | aka Wikileaks id #176127 ?
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| Subject | Chengdu Leadership Portraits And The Perils Of Poor Timing |
| Origin | Consulate Chengdu (China) |
| Cable time | Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:09 UTC |
| Classification | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Source | http://wikileaks.org/cable/2008/10/08CHENGDU251.html |
| References | 07CHENGDU30, 08CHENGDU30 |
| Referenced by | 08CHENGDU275, 10CHENGDU18 |
| History | |
| Extras | ? Comments |
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RR RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHCN #0251/01 3050909
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 310909Z OCT 08
FM AMCONSUL CHENGDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2979
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 3636
Hide header
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000251
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 25X1 -- HUMAN
TAGS: PGOV [Internal Governmental Affairs], PINR [Intelligence], CH [China (Mainland)]
SUBJECT: CHENGDU LEADERSHIP PORTRAITS AND THE PERILS OF POOR TIMING
REF: A. 07 CHENGDU 30
B. 06 CHENGDU 1016
CHENGDU 00000251 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: James A. Boughner, Consul General, U.S. Consulate
General, Chengdu.
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: On the margins of several high-level events held in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu during late October, contacts shared their views about local political leaders and how their careers are developing. There was wide consensus that Chengdu Party Secretary Li Chuncheng's career is in deep trouble after he incurred the wrath of Premier Wen Jiabao for opening an overly lavish new city headquarters right after the Sichuan earthquake. Although Deputy Provincial Governor Huang and Chengdu Mayor Ge get good reviews for competency, neither appears to qualify for rising star status. End Summary. Party Secretary Li: If you build it~.. ---------------------------------------
¶2. (C) Chengdu's recent Trade and Investment Forum (presided over by Deputy Premier Li Keqiang) and Earthquake Reconstruction Conference (cosponsored by UNCTAD and the Ministry of Commerce) presented numerous opportunities for informal discussions with both longtime and new Congen contacts. Several well-connected local businessmen confirmed to us that Chengdu Party Secretary Li Chuncheng is in hot water vis-`-vis Beijing. Li, who has served in his current position since 2003 and is widely viewed as one of the principal forces behind Chengdu's building boom, was very unlucky when it came to the timing for completing his favorite project -- the city's new government headquarters. The massive new complex, complete with "bird's nest style" exteriors, occupies over 370,000 square meters and reportedly cost over USD 176 million.
¶3. (C) Unfortunately for Li, city workers began moving into it almost immediately following the May 12 Sichuan earthquake thereby creating an image problem among local residents at a time of grief and shock. What really hurt Li, as one contact noted, was a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to the new headquarters after Wen had traveled to areas worst hit by the earthquake and seen dead and injured being pulled from the rubble. The contact described how Wen left the city headquarters in disgust having spent less than three minutes in it. The contact commented it was at least somewhat fortunate the Premier never actually made it as far as Li's own luxurious office. Subsequently in mid-July, after being ordered to do so by Beijing, Li held a press conference in Chengdu in which he announced that those workers who had already set up shop in the new complex would be sent back to their old offices. The municipal headquarters would be sold to private developers and the proceeds used for earthquake rebuilding.
¶4. (C) According to one contact, although it does not appear Li will be removed from his position, he is certainly not going to get the promotion he believes to be long overdue. Li had hoped to land a governorship, perhaps of a province in the northeast where he hails from originally. The contact remarked, however, as Li is already 52-years-old, it is too late for him to "come back from the dead." While agreeing fully that Li's career has been damaged, another contact reiterated the whole incident really came down just to poor timing and it was a "stupid waste" for Beijing to have ordered the new headquarters sold. The contact stressed no business firm would try to take over the complex because "it's just too big." He said none of the city employees who had already started to work there have left and speculated that after a couple of years or so, when things have settled down, the headquarters will be declared impossible to sell and be fully occupied by municipal departments. Vice Governor Huang: Running a bit late -----------------------------------------
¶5. (C) Although presumably not a career damaging issue, Vice Governor Huang Xiaoxiang's own "timing" was somewhat off at the official opening of the Sichuan Trade and Investment Fair Exhibition on the rainy morning of October 27. Given the presence of Deputy Premier Li Keqiang and foreign VIPs (Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka and Laos, Vietnamese Deputy Premier, Philippine Vice President), security at the exhibition hall was intense and vehicle traffic in the vicinity heavily controlled. Anticipating a crunch, CG and US business executives got to the hall very early to staff the exhibition's USA Pavilion. In fact, we appeared to be the only foreign guests allowed in before security really shut down the site. Through the front entrance glass doors CG saw his British and Japanese counterparts being kept outside in the rain. CHENGDU 00000251 002.2 OF 002
¶6. (C) With the arrival of Deputy Premier Li's motorcade, the crowds outside were pushed away and Li Keqiang strode into the exhibition hall immediately followed by Sichuan Party Secretary Liu Qibao and Governor Jiang Jufeng. The group made a beeline for a photographic exhibit of Hu Jintao visiting earthquake survivors. Not too long after, there was a noticeable commotion out front and a very angry, red-faced, wet-looking Vice Governor Huang ran past uniformed police to try to catch up with Deputy Premier Li. The diminutive Huang grabbed a rather largish plainclothes security officer, shouted "what's wrong with you," punched him in the back, and rushed around him to join the other leaders.
¶7. (C) As one contact volunteered, Huang "really lost it." Apparently, security officials inadvertently/unexpectedly had cut off Huang's car from Li's motorcade. This made Huang, who had been given the honor to explain the Hu Jintao photos to Deputy Premier Li due to his close involvement in the specifics of earthquake relief, both late and furious. Another contact later noted Huang is generally respected, competent, and usually even-tempered. He added, however, that Huang is already fifty-two and probably does not have strong enough connections to advance much further. The front page of the next day's Sichuan "Huaxi Daily" had a good picture of Huang looking composed as he escorted Deputy Premier Li through the exhibition. Mayor Ge: Comfortable Already ----------------------------------------
¶8. (C) Sitting cheek-to-jowl with Mayor Ge Honglin (strictly protect) at one of the many massive banquets held in Chengdu the last week of October, CG asked Ge about local rumors he might be moving on to Beijing. Ge, the former head of Baogang Steel in Shanghai has been mayor in Chengdu for over five years, has a good reputation for trying to be helpful to foreign investors, and has apparently escaped blame for the new municipal headquarters fiasco. He laughed and said, "that's the last place I would want to go."
¶9. (C) Between toasts, Ge explained he really enjoys his work in Chengdu and believes he is making a difference both with earthquake rebuilding and trying to develop the city into a major regional transportation hub. Service in Beijing would be a "big headache" and sometimes it's better to be "away from the center." After he retires from the government, the fifty-two-year-old Ge said he would like to work as an advisor to a business firm and spend lots of time traveling overseas. Comments -------------
¶10. (C) While they can be tedious and grow old quickly, large-scale banquets and other public events sometimes provide an opportunity for more spontaneous and open discussions with interlocutors than formulaic official meetings. As Deputy Governor Huang told CG at one of the recent banquets, after we had both been asked to get up from the table for about the fifteenth time to engage in individual toasting sessions, "you don't always get to eat at banquets, but the conversation is sometimes interesting and a lot of business can be done. BOUGHNER
¶1. (C) Summary: On the margins of several high-level events held in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu during late October, contacts shared their views about local political leaders and how their careers are developing. There was wide consensus that Chengdu Party Secretary Li Chuncheng's career is in deep trouble after he incurred the wrath of Premier Wen Jiabao for opening an overly lavish new city headquarters right after the Sichuan earthquake. Although Deputy Provincial Governor Huang and Chengdu Mayor Ge get good reviews for competency, neither appears to qualify for rising star status. End Summary. Party Secretary Li: If you build it~.. ---------------------------------------
¶2. (C) Chengdu's recent Trade and Investment Forum (presided over by Deputy Premier Li Keqiang) and Earthquake Reconstruction Conference (cosponsored by UNCTAD and the Ministry of Commerce) presented numerous opportunities for informal discussions with both longtime and new Congen contacts. Several well-connected local businessmen confirmed to us that Chengdu Party Secretary Li Chuncheng is in hot water vis-`-vis Beijing. Li, who has served in his current position since 2003 and is widely viewed as one of the principal forces behind Chengdu's building boom, was very unlucky when it came to the timing for completing his favorite project -- the city's new government headquarters. The massive new complex, complete with "bird's nest style" exteriors, occupies over 370,000 square meters and reportedly cost over USD 176 million.
¶3. (C) Unfortunately for Li, city workers began moving into it almost immediately following the May 12 Sichuan earthquake thereby creating an image problem among local residents at a time of grief and shock. What really hurt Li, as one contact noted, was a visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to the new headquarters after Wen had traveled to areas worst hit by the earthquake and seen dead and injured being pulled from the rubble. The contact described how Wen left the city headquarters in disgust having spent less than three minutes in it. The contact commented it was at least somewhat fortunate the Premier never actually made it as far as Li's own luxurious office. Subsequently in mid-July, after being ordered to do so by Beijing, Li held a press conference in Chengdu in which he announced that those workers who had already set up shop in the new complex would be sent back to their old offices. The municipal headquarters would be sold to private developers and the proceeds used for earthquake rebuilding.
¶4. (C) According to one contact, although it does not appear Li will be removed from his position, he is certainly not going to get the promotion he believes to be long overdue. Li had hoped to land a governorship, perhaps of a province in the northeast where he hails from originally. The contact remarked, however, as Li is already 52-years-old, it is too late for him to "come back from the dead." While agreeing fully that Li's career has been damaged, another contact reiterated the whole incident really came down just to poor timing and it was a "stupid waste" for Beijing to have ordered the new headquarters sold. The contact stressed no business firm would try to take over the complex because "it's just too big." He said none of the city employees who had already started to work there have left and speculated that after a couple of years or so, when things have settled down, the headquarters will be declared impossible to sell and be fully occupied by municipal departments. Vice Governor Huang: Running a bit late -----------------------------------------
¶5. (C) Although presumably not a career damaging issue, Vice Governor Huang Xiaoxiang's own "timing" was somewhat off at the official opening of the Sichuan Trade and Investment Fair Exhibition on the rainy morning of October 27. Given the presence of Deputy Premier Li Keqiang and foreign VIPs (Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka and Laos, Vietnamese Deputy Premier, Philippine Vice President), security at the exhibition hall was intense and vehicle traffic in the vicinity heavily controlled. Anticipating a crunch, CG and US business executives got to the hall very early to staff the exhibition's USA Pavilion. In fact, we appeared to be the only foreign guests allowed in before security really shut down the site. Through the front entrance glass doors CG saw his British and Japanese counterparts being kept outside in the rain. CHENGDU 00000251 002.2 OF 002
¶6. (C) With the arrival of Deputy Premier Li's motorcade, the crowds outside were pushed away and Li Keqiang strode into the exhibition hall immediately followed by Sichuan Party Secretary Liu Qibao and Governor Jiang Jufeng. The group made a beeline for a photographic exhibit of Hu Jintao visiting earthquake survivors. Not too long after, there was a noticeable commotion out front and a very angry, red-faced, wet-looking Vice Governor Huang ran past uniformed police to try to catch up with Deputy Premier Li. The diminutive Huang grabbed a rather largish plainclothes security officer, shouted "what's wrong with you," punched him in the back, and rushed around him to join the other leaders.
¶7. (C) As one contact volunteered, Huang "really lost it." Apparently, security officials inadvertently/unexpectedly had cut off Huang's car from Li's motorcade. This made Huang, who had been given the honor to explain the Hu Jintao photos to Deputy Premier Li due to his close involvement in the specifics of earthquake relief, both late and furious. Another contact later noted Huang is generally respected, competent, and usually even-tempered. He added, however, that Huang is already fifty-two and probably does not have strong enough connections to advance much further. The front page of the next day's Sichuan "Huaxi Daily" had a good picture of Huang looking composed as he escorted Deputy Premier Li through the exhibition. Mayor Ge: Comfortable Already ----------------------------------------
¶8. (C) Sitting cheek-to-jowl with Mayor Ge Honglin (strictly protect) at one of the many massive banquets held in Chengdu the last week of October, CG asked Ge about local rumors he might be moving on to Beijing. Ge, the former head of Baogang Steel in Shanghai has been mayor in Chengdu for over five years, has a good reputation for trying to be helpful to foreign investors, and has apparently escaped blame for the new municipal headquarters fiasco. He laughed and said, "that's the last place I would want to go."
¶9. (C) Between toasts, Ge explained he really enjoys his work in Chengdu and believes he is making a difference both with earthquake rebuilding and trying to develop the city into a major regional transportation hub. Service in Beijing would be a "big headache" and sometimes it's better to be "away from the center." After he retires from the government, the fifty-two-year-old Ge said he would like to work as an advisor to a business firm and spend lots of time traveling overseas. Comments -------------
¶10. (C) While they can be tedious and grow old quickly, large-scale banquets and other public events sometimes provide an opportunity for more spontaneous and open discussions with interlocutors than formulaic official meetings. As Deputy Governor Huang told CG at one of the recent banquets, after we had both been asked to get up from the table for about the fifteenth time to engage in individual toasting sessions, "you don't always get to eat at banquets, but the conversation is sometimes interesting and a lot of business can be done. BOUGHNER
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