Bureau chief Gigi Grande, however, also said in her report that Sydney, the site of the gathering, remained on medium alert because no specific intelligence information about an attack had been received.

Special police powers are now in effect, giving policemen the right to search and detain anyone in the APEC-declared security zone whom they find suspicious.

Authorities are most concerned about two things: a terrorist attack and violent street protests.

A five-kilometer fence has been built to seal off Sydney's Opera House where most meetings are scheduled to take place.

Hospitals are also on standby.

About 200 prisoners serving minor offenses are being sent home for the weekend to make room for potentially violent protesters.

US President George W. Bush is set to arrive on Tuesday while the rest of the world leaders, including Mrs. Arroyo, are scheduled on Friday.

Climate change and the fight against terrorism are expected to top the agenda.

In Manila, a statement from the presidential palace in Malacañang said Mrs. Arroyo is all set to travel Down Under for the six-day meet.

The President will be accompanied by Cabinet and other agency officials. Meetings have been set with their counterparts from Australia and New Zealand with regard to free trade deals.

Business leaders and officials of the country's biggest companies will also be with the President during the gathering.

In a related report, Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Australia Monday for a seven-day state visit focussed on the Asian giant's need for mineral resources to power its booming economy.

Hu was accompanied by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai. Their planed arrived in the Western Australian city of Perth for a one-day visit on his way to attend the APEC meet in Sydney.

Hu's arrived ahead of a visit focused on the mineral and mining industry.

Hu will be the guest of honor at a dinner later Monday hosted by Western Australia Premier Alan Carpenter.

On Tuesday, he will visit the Australian Resources Research Centre near Perth, where he will hear a presentation by mining giant BHP Billiton.

China's importation of mineral resources, including uranium, to fuel its economic and industrial growth is blessing Australian miners with record profits.

China is Australia's second largest trading partner, while Australia is China's ninth. In 2006, trade between the two countries amounted to US$32.9 billion, up 20 percent from the previous year.

Hu will visit Canberra on Tuesday before heading on to Sydney where he is scheduled for a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard later in the week. The two sides are set to sign a series of trade, energy, and mineral resource deals, the China Daily newspaper reported. 上海翻译公司 http://www.oktrans.net

written by  tonyyang123 on September 3, 2007 from Shanghai, China
from the travel blog: China Trip
tagged China
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I was in Shanghai last year.

written by  tonyyang123 on September 3, 2007

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