Ms. Zhang Qiyue, Spokesperson of China Secretariat for APEC 2001, briefed domestic and overseas media at the International Media Center this morning about today's activities of the leaders who will attend the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting for October 20-21.

Ms. Zhang said, Chinese President Jiang Zemin will meet with U.S. President George W. Bush this morning and exchange views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of common concern . President Jiang will also meet some of the leaders from the APEC members including the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand this afternoon.

She said a number of leaders will arrive in Shanghai today for the meeting.

When answering a question on the talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Russian counterpart Ivanov Igor Sergeevich held on Thursday, Ms. Zhang said, they exchanged their views on a wide range of issues of mutual concern including the cooperation among the APEC members and the efforts to combat terrorism. They also discussed the issue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

(People's Daily 10/19/2001)