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CNN Live Sunday
G-8 Summit Under Way
Aired June 01, 2003 - 16:06 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.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to Europe, where the world's great economic powers are meeting in France. The G-8 Summit also the staging ground for the major post-war fence mending. President Bush arrived Evian, France today for the summit, and to face war leaders who opposed the war in Iraq. CNN senior White House correspondent, John King, is traveling with the president and joins us now live.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, those interactions between President Bush and other world leaders here, especially those opposed him when it came to war in Iraq, are being closely watched. Mr. Bush has come in contact in the recent hours with one of the presidents who most fiercely fought the United States when it came to going to war, the host president, Jacques Chirac of France. Mr. Bush exchanged a polite, some would say even friendly handshake with the French president. They talked briefly during a photo opportunity. Later, they encountered each other again during the sessions here at the G-8, and Mr. Bush even had a brief pat on the back for the French president. Still, White House officials say there are lingering hard feelings that will not go away overnight. At a news conference, though, here at Evian, President Chirac says he believes the relationship is on the mend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUES CHIRAC, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I met with President Bush in a very positive manner, looking at possible solutions of the problems we're confronting and this will now continue -- these discussions will continue tomorrow, and they are no way a source of concern or worry to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, also among the leaders who fiercely opposed Mr. Bush when it came to Iraq's policy, on hand for this meeting. On hand for a dinner of the leaders tonight and some of the invited guests. Mr. Bush and Mr. Schroeder did see each other briefly last night. They shook hands and said hello, but Mr. Bush has no plans to meet one-on-one with Chancellor Schroeder here.
In fact, it has been more than a year since Mr. Bush has had an extended conversation with the German leader. Contrast that to the president's eagerness and willingness to meet with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, who was invited to attend the discussions here. Mr. Bush photographed with the President Hu before their meeting. On the agenda, of course, for that meeting, the global economy, top of the agenda, though, the North Korean nuclear weapons program. Mr. Bush saying that he wants to work closely with China to peacefully resolve the standoff with North Korea over its weapons program. And Mr. Bush also had an invitation for President Hu to come to the United States either late this year or early next year.
At an earlier stop in Russia, he invited President Putin to come to the United States in September. Mr. Bush inviting two leaders he wants to meet with to come to Washington in the near future. White House officials tell us, yes, Mr. Bush is not here for a confrontation, but, no, do not look for invitations to come to Washington to be extended to President Chirac or Chancellor Schroeder. Hard feelings still linger. No hospitality like that, at least just yet. Sophia?
CHOI: All right, John King traveling with the president. Thank you.
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 June 1, 2003 - 16:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to Europe, where the world's great economic powers are meeting in France. The G-8 Summit also the staging ground for the major post-war fence mending. President Bush arrived Evian, France today for the summit, and to face war leaders who opposed the war in Iraq. CNN senior White House correspondent, John King, is traveling with the president and joins us now live.
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sophia, those interactions between President Bush and other world leaders here, especially those opposed him when it came to war in Iraq, are being closely watched. Mr. Bush has come in contact in the recent hours with one of the presidents who most fiercely fought the United States when it came to going to war, the host president, Jacques Chirac of France. Mr. Bush exchanged a polite, some would say even friendly handshake with the French president. They talked briefly during a photo opportunity. Later, they encountered each other again during the sessions here at the G-8, and Mr. Bush even had a brief pat on the back for the French president. Still, White House officials say there are lingering hard feelings that will not go away overnight. At a news conference, though, here at Evian, President Chirac says he believes the relationship is on the mend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUES CHIRAC, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I met with President Bush in a very positive manner, looking at possible solutions of the problems we're confronting and this will now continue -- these discussions will continue tomorrow, and they are no way a source of concern or worry to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Now, the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, also among the leaders who fiercely opposed Mr. Bush when it came to Iraq's policy, on hand for this meeting. On hand for a dinner of the leaders tonight and some of the invited guests. Mr. Bush and Mr. Schroeder did see each other briefly last night. They shook hands and said hello, but Mr. Bush has no plans to meet one-on-one with Chancellor Schroeder here.
In fact, it has been more than a year since Mr. Bush has had an extended conversation with the German leader. Contrast that to the president's eagerness and willingness to meet with the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, who was invited to attend the discussions here. Mr. Bush photographed with the President Hu before their meeting. On the agenda, of course, for that meeting, the global economy, top of the agenda, though, the North Korean nuclear weapons program. Mr. Bush saying that he wants to work closely with China to peacefully resolve the standoff with North Korea over its weapons program. And Mr. Bush also had an invitation for President Hu to come to the United States either late this year or early next year.
At an earlier stop in Russia, he invited President Putin to come to the United States in September. Mr. Bush inviting two leaders he wants to meet with to come to Washington in the near future. White House officials tell us, yes, Mr. Bush is not here for a confrontation, but, no, do not look for invitations to come to Washington to be extended to President Chirac or Chancellor Schroeder. Hard feelings still linger. No hospitality like that, at least just yet. Sophia?
CHOI: All right, John King traveling with the president. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
