Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

U.S. Delegations Meets With Spy Plane Crew Members in China

Aired April 07, 2001 - 14:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Chinese officials have released a letter today saying that U.S. expressions of regrets over the spy plane incident are not enough, but we are updating you on the meeting, the third meeting with the crew members that has been detained, the 24 crew members, and that third meeting, we understand, has ended on Hainan island. Our Lisa Rose Weaver is there, and can bring us the latest.

LISA ROSE WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The meetings have ended, the U.S. side has met successfully for the third time with 24 detained crew members. There was no word of when they might be released.

Brigadier General Neal Sealock, the head of the delegation, said the crew members are in good spirit, doing very well, happy to receive printed copies of e-mails from friends and families in the United States.

Now, the Chinese side also spoke. Foreign Affairs official from Hainan island said, reiterating the Chinese position that the United States should recognize the fact of the air collision. He emphasized the Chinese people are very worried about the Chinese pilot Wang Wei who went down in his F-8 the day of that mid-air collision. He said that 800 fishing vessels are searching for the Chinese pilot, whom Chinese authorities have not yet declared dead -- Donna.

KELLEY: Lisa Rose Weaver on Hainan island, thanks for the very latest there.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com