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CNN Saturday Morning News

Bush Administration Considers Visit to China a Success

Aired October 20, 2001 - 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is managing the fight against terror from afar this weekend. He's in China for an annual Asia Pacific Economic forum. Because it's after 11:00 in the evening in Shanghai, let's get CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace to brief us on the president's day -- Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Marty.

Well, at this hour, President Bush likely resting, gearing up to what will be his final day in Shanghai -- a day that will include a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And then Mr. Bush will be heading back to Washington, cutting his trip about 12 hours short. Aides say no urgent reason for this, other than the fact that the president wants to get back to the White House to monitor the campaign against terrorism.

But, of course, the president starting his day, Saturday, in Shanghai, getting the very grim news about the deaths of these U.S. servicemen killed in that helicopter incident in Pakistan. The president saying that his heart goes out to the families. But he also said these soldiers died in a cause that he called just and right. And he said the U.S. will prevail in this fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think the American people now fully understand that we are in an important struggle; a struggle that will take time, and that their country -- there will be moments of sacrifice. We've seen two such examples today.

The thing that's important for me to tell the American people, that these soldiers will not have died in vain. This is a just cause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, Mr. Bush having meeting with other leaders, including the Japanese prime minister, also attending a dinner with the Asia Pacific Economic group leaders Saturday night. He made no mention or would not comment on the first ground action by U.S. commando raids in Afghanistan, but he did say that U.S. forces were, quote, "encircling the terrorists to bring them to justice." In his keynote speech in Shanghai, the president said the terrorists targeted the World Trade Center, but they failed to reduce confidence in the global economy.

And then in his weekly radio address, broadcast just about an hour ago, the president said countries around the world have a choice: Either fight the terrorists or watch the terrorists at some point in the future strike in their very own homeland.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

BUSH: The nations meeting here in Shanghai understand what is at stake. If we do not stand against terrorism now, every civilized nation will, at some point, be its target. We will defeat the terrorists by destroying their network wherever it is found. We will also defeat the terrorists by building an enduring prosperity that promises more opportunity and better lives for all the world's people.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: And Marty, this summit will end Sunday with a communique. The 21 leaders condemning the terrorist attack of September 11 as acts that threaten the security of all people around the world. The leaders will also pledge more cooperation when it comes to the financial fight against terrorists. But the statement will not make any mention of the military campaign against Afghanistan, a sign of the concerns, in particularly the Muslim nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which have been critical of this U.S.-led military campaign -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: And, Kelly, candidly how critical is that? How is that being accepted by the White House?

WALLACE: Well, the White House is feeling that it's pretty good that it is getting in this statement. Again, this APEC Summit normally focuses solely on global trade and the economy -- rarely talks about political or other international incidents.

So the White House feeling like it's a victory getting these leaders to condemn the terrorist attacks and, again, pledging the cooperation on the financial front. But it really does show that the longer this campaign goes on, the military part of this, the more challenges that will be confronting President Bush.

Because even countries such as Russia and China, which have been supportive -- broadly supportive, have also encouraged the United States to try to get to a political solution as quickly as possible. You heard the Chinese president talking about the U.S. making sure that it focuses its targets closely and it reduces civilian casualties. You have the Malaysian leader telling the president of concern about civilian casualties.

So the longer the campaign goes on, the more challenges, again, confronting the president from even these leaders, who generally are condemning terrorism around the world -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Kelly Wallace, joining us live from the White House -- thank you very much.

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