Bush arrives in China for APEC amid extradinary security

Bush arrives in China for APEC amid extradinary security

Agencies, Shanghai

Amid extraordinary security, U.S. President George W. Bush
arrived in Shanghai on Thursday on his first overseas trip since
the attacks on America to shore up support for his war against
terrorism at an Asia Pacific summit.

The broad avenues of China's glittering financial capital were
mostly clear of cars and pedestrians, and armed troops in
camouflage guarded roads into the city as Air Force One landed.

Bush is using his first official trip to China to gather
support for his war against terrorism in a region that includes
staunch backers such as Australia, which has offered troops and
aircraft for the war in Afghanistan, and more wary nations such
as predominantly Muslim Indonesia and Malaysia.

In the run-up to the meeting of the 21-member Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, China took the draconian step
of denying visas to visitors from a host of Middle Eastern
countries.

Some 10,000 police have been mobilized in Shanghai and sniffer
dogs have been patrolling for bombs and explosives. State
television said China had stepped up checks for anthrax in mail
sorting rooms and at border crossings.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Thursday he is
pleased by what he called a resounding signal from Pacific rim
countries of their readiness to combat international terrorism.

Powell spoke after he and other delegates to the forum
prepared a draft statement on terrorism in advance of the annual
APEC summit meeting. Once final agreement on the wording is
reached, the document will be issued as a formal APEC summit
statement.

Powell, speaking to a gathering of American business leaders,
expressed strong satisfaction with the draft even though it made
no direct reference to the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan.

Alluding to the debate over the statement, Powell said, "We
got a resounding signal of support from all members present. And
President Bush will get the same signal when he meets with those
leaders over the weekend."

The absence in the draft of any reference to the 11-day-old
bombing campaign in Afghanistan reflected the influence of
Indonesia and Malaysia, both predominantly Muslim members of
APEC, delegates said.

Asked at a news conference about the lack of support for the
bombing campaign, Powell said of the earlier discussions: "I
cannot say that concerns were expressed, just the hope that it
(the campaign) will be concluded soon."

But Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said her government
was concerned about the loss of civilian life in Afghanistan. She
called for the convening of an international conference that
would make recommendations on ways to end international
terrorism.

With strong backing from the United States, APEC foreign
ministers agreed to hold a special session on terrorism ahead of
the summit.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, speaking to reporters
about the deliberations, said the ministers agreed that the
struggle against terrorism "is a fight between justice and evil,
civilization and savagery." The draft also alludes to the
"murderous deeds" of the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks in
New York and Washington.

Powell's comments before the business group and at a later
news conference with fellow delegates suggested he is optimistic
about Sino-American relations.

Tang also sounded an optimistic note, saying the relationship
is making headway. China, he added, is ready to expand
cooperation further.

Bush is due to hold his first ever meeting with Chinese
President Jiang Zemin on Friday ahead of a weekend summit of
leaders and a blitz of other bilateral sessions. China has
strongly condemned the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and
Washington, which killed more than 5,400 people.