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CNN Sunday Morning
APEC Summit Comes to a Close
Aired October 27, 2002 - 11:11 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush and the leaders of the 21 Asian nations are scheduled to pose for their so-called class photo. In fact, we believe they're doing that right now as the APEC summit comes to a close in Los Cabos, Mexico. Terror and trade dominate the discussions and we get the very latest now from CNN's senior White House correspondent, John King, with the president in Los Cabos.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Heidi. And the leaders are indeed -- 21 member economies of APEC posing for the traditional class photo this morning. You will notice they are all wearing a signature white shirt. That is an APEC tradition, a signature item of clothing from the host country on the final day of the meetings for the class photo. This is an economic club and in their final communique, they will commit themselves to improving trade relations, to taking steps designed to help spur economic growth on both sides of the Pacific. But the talks here dominated by security concerns and the economic effects of terrorism not only in the United States but in Asian nations directly affected as well.
President Bush arriving for the talks earlier this morning, shaking hands with the Mexican President Vicente Fox, then heading off for a beautiful overlook of the ocean for a brief huddle with his friend, the Mexican president, perhaps discussing the language in the final communique today.
The leaders will commit themselves to more free trade. They have already adopted a tough counterterrorism statement. For President Bush, the priority here is trying to line up support for his approach to North Korea and Iraq. North Korea has admitted a nuclear weapons program. Mr. Bush wants to isolate North Korea until it agrees to abandon that program. In that effort, he needs the support of Japan, South Korea, China and Russia. And Mr. Bush, of course, also trying to win support for his position in the United Nations Security Council, an ultimatum, if you will, to Saddam Hussein. Mr. Bush having trouble on that front. Russia and France still object. But U.S. officials tell us privately they believe significant progress has been made here with Mexico and China. So the discussions continue today.
And Heidi, you were just noting on a sad note the upcoming November 5 elections and the impact of the Minnesota crash on the electrics in that state. Mr. Bush leaves here in just a few hours. He heads back to the United States to continue his campaigning for Republican candidates.
COLLINS: All right, John King, from Los Cabos, Mexico, this morning. We do appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 27, 2002 - 11:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush and the leaders of the 21 Asian nations are scheduled to pose for their so-called class photo. In fact, we believe they're doing that right now as the APEC summit comes to a close in Los Cabos, Mexico. Terror and trade dominate the discussions and we get the very latest now from CNN's senior White House correspondent, John King, with the president in Los Cabos.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Heidi. And the leaders are indeed -- 21 member economies of APEC posing for the traditional class photo this morning. You will notice they are all wearing a signature white shirt. That is an APEC tradition, a signature item of clothing from the host country on the final day of the meetings for the class photo. This is an economic club and in their final communique, they will commit themselves to improving trade relations, to taking steps designed to help spur economic growth on both sides of the Pacific. But the talks here dominated by security concerns and the economic effects of terrorism not only in the United States but in Asian nations directly affected as well.
President Bush arriving for the talks earlier this morning, shaking hands with the Mexican President Vicente Fox, then heading off for a beautiful overlook of the ocean for a brief huddle with his friend, the Mexican president, perhaps discussing the language in the final communique today.
The leaders will commit themselves to more free trade. They have already adopted a tough counterterrorism statement. For President Bush, the priority here is trying to line up support for his approach to North Korea and Iraq. North Korea has admitted a nuclear weapons program. Mr. Bush wants to isolate North Korea until it agrees to abandon that program. In that effort, he needs the support of Japan, South Korea, China and Russia. And Mr. Bush, of course, also trying to win support for his position in the United Nations Security Council, an ultimatum, if you will, to Saddam Hussein. Mr. Bush having trouble on that front. Russia and France still object. But U.S. officials tell us privately they believe significant progress has been made here with Mexico and China. So the discussions continue today.
And Heidi, you were just noting on a sad note the upcoming November 5 elections and the impact of the Minnesota crash on the electrics in that state. Mr. Bush leaves here in just a few hours. He heads back to the United States to continue his campaigning for Republican candidates.
COLLINS: All right, John King, from Los Cabos, Mexico, this morning. We do appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
