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American Morning

Bush Has First Meeting With Chinese President

Aired October 19, 2001 - 11:32   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Overseas, President Bush has wrapped up his first full day in Shanghai, where he's working to enlist more nations in the fight against terrorism. It is now late in Shanghai.

Let's good to the White House, then, and check in with Kelly Wallace, watching all the developments from there.

Hey Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Bill.

Well, at this hour we certainly hope that President Bush and my colleagues, for that matter, in Shanghai are getting some rest, gearing up for Saturday's schedule in which President Bush will deliver a speech to this Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group; a speech in which he is expected to talk about how terrorism can impact the global economy.

Now one note to mention, here at the White House, Bill, we did learn that President Bush did speak on this day with his Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge, to get an update on the investigations involving anthrax and other issues. And we do know that Governor Ridge will be holding another briefing, one later this afternoon at 1:00. This will be the second of what the White House is calling regular briefings by Governor Ridge.

Again, an effort by this administration to put out a united front and try to get information to the American people as quickly as possible and also, again, responding to some criticism that different agencies at times have been giving conflicting information to the American people.

Now, back it Shanghai. The key -- the highlight, really, of the president's day Friday: His first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. This after the relationship between the two countries somewhat strained, especially after the incident involving the U.S. surveillance plane and its crew in April.

The president and the Chinese leader meeting for about three hours, a big focus getting the Chinese leader's support in this campaign against terrorism. Senior Bush aides telling reporters that the Chinese president did endorse the broad outlines of the president's campaign; also pledged to provide intelligence support and to help freeze the financial assets of any suspected terrorists. However, the Chinese president also basically encouraged the administration to choose its targets carefully and avoid to civilian casualties. Senior Bush aides, though, sort of putting the brightest spin on this, saying they do not believe that the Chinese leader was imposing any conditions on its support.

Now, we also saw on Thursday, Vice President Dick Cheney making his first visit to New York City since the September 11 attacks. He got a first-hand look at the damage, said it was really almost impossible to describe. And then he delivered a speech at an annual dinner; a very powerful speech, really. And the vice president saying that everyone in that room wants to see justice done. The vice president saying that no one will stop until justice is realized.

Here is what the vice president said last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For the first time in our history we will probably suffer more casualties here at home in America than will our troops overseas. We cannot deal with terror; we'll not end in a treaty. There will be no peaceful coexistence, no negotiations, no summit, no joint communique with the terrorists. The struggle can only end with their complete and permanent destruction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And the vice president also saying no punishment too harsh for those terrorists.

Bill, you know the vice president has been in what the White House has called a secure, undisclosed location. Obviously we have been seeing a lot more of him. We saw him yesterday in New York and we just saw him leave here from the White House.

Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Keep his track. Kelly, thanks.

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