SHANGHAI, China (AP) - Cautioned by China to spare innocent civilians in Afghanistan attacks, President Bush urged wavering Asian nations to support America's campaign against terrorism. He faced resistance Saturday from Malaysia, whose leader wants the United States to stop bombing Afghanistan.The president met Chinese President Jiang Zemin for the first time Friday and praised him for sharing intelligence on terrorists' activities and helping to cut off financing to their organizations. (Read photo caption below) The Chinese leader, in turn, cautioned Bush about U.S. military strikes against the terrorist-harboring Taliban.
The remarks reflected the sentiments of many leaders joining Bush at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, which formally opens Saturday. The APEC leaders are expected to approve a statement against terrorism without mentioning U.S. strikes on Afghanistan.
Amid rising tensions, Bush met Saturday with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who recently denounced the Afghanistan raids. The meeting was closed to reporters.
U.S. officials believe the al-Qaida group of Osama bin Laden, the top suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, has been trying to build ties with Islamic militants in Malaysia.
One of the suspected suicide hijackers, Khalid Almihdhar, was shown to be visiting Malaysia early this year, appearing on a surveillance videotape meeting with a suspected bin Laden associate.
Malaysia is one of three Muslim-dominated nations in APEC. Brunei and Indonesia are the others.
Bush also meets Saturday with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who expressed sympathy with the United States after the attacks.
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, in an Oval Office meeting with Bush after the attacks on Washington and New York, was one of the first foreign leaders to sign up for the anti-terrorism campaign. Upon her return home, under pressure from anti-U.S. political forces, she hardened her stance against bombing.
Bush meets Putin on Sunday, capping three days of wartime diplomacy carried out halfway around the world from an American public rattled by anthrax threats.
Bush planned to challenge APEC leaders: Show the world - enemies and friends alike - that economic progress will continue despite the efforts by terrorists to spread fear across the globe.
PHOTO CAPTION:
U.S. President George Bush looks up as he waits for photographers to depart the room during a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, unseen, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)