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Notizie Tibet
Sisani Marina - 8 novembre 1997
Jiang likely to speak at city's APEC gala

Published by: World Tibet Network News Sunday, November 9, 1997

Edward Alden

VANCOUVER, Saturday 8 November 1997 (Vancouver Sun) Chinese President Jiang Zemin is close to being confirmed as the keynote speaker for the City of Vancouver's APEC gala dinner later this month.

Mayor Philip Owen and officials from the Vancouver Economic DevelopmentCommission have been in talks with high-level Chinese officials, and arehoping for an announcement at city hall shortly, said Maria Ko, chair of the Vancouver 97 Gala.

The $1,000-a-plate reception and dinner will be held Nov. 23 at the HyattRegency Hotel, and is expected to bring together about 500 delegates from the18 Asia-Pacific economies with 500 local business people.

The event is the only one formally hosted by the city during the APEC meeting, and is intended to introduce local business people to top officialsfrom the other 17 APEC countries. Invitations have been extended to all theleaders, and several others may attend, said Ko.

If confirmed, the speech would be the first in Canada for the Chinese leader.He will attend the two-day APEC leaders' meeting in Vancouver, Nov. 24 and25, and then embark on a three-day tour of the country in his first officialstate visit to Canada, senior Canadian officials said Friday.

Ko said the decision on whether Jiang will speak at the Vancouver gala is"very close." But she acknowledged Jiang's plans could still change. The commission had originally planned a press conference for Monday to announce the agreement.

The effort to woo Jiang will likely be controversial because critics say theChinese president bears some responsibility for the 1989 Tiananmen Squaremassacre and subsequent arrests of students, journalists and human- rights activists.

Students at the University of Victoria protested last summer when theuniversity senate announced it would confirm an honourary degree on Jiang ina special ceremony on Nov. 26. China subsequently announced that Jiang couldnot attend the ceremony

Owen was in California and not available for comment Friday.

Councillor Jennifer Clarke, who attended meetings with China's advance teampreparing the visit, said it is still too early to say that Jiang willattend. But she said it would be "an excellent opportunity for Canadianbusiness people to meet the leader of China . . . It would be good for China,good for Canada and good for Vancouver."

Councillor Daniel Lee also said Jiang's attendance "would be very beneficialto Vancouver." He acknowledged there might be some protests, but said "as faras our role is concerned, we're hoping to open dialogue and business."

The commission co-chairs and Owen met at city hall Monday with China'sdirector-general of protocol, Yesui Zhang, Ko said. Zhang is in charge ofJiang's schedule, and it would be largely his decision as to whether the president attends the gala.

Ko also travelled to Ottawa last weekend to meet with China's ambassador toCanada, followed by a similar visit from Ivan Head, foreign policy adviser toformer Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and now a law professor at theUniversity of B.C.

About half the $1,000-tickets for the gala are already sold, said Ko, and another 20 per cent are committed. The hefty fee will subsidize theattendance of APEC delegates, and any leftover money will go to thecommission, which was established by the city last year to promote Vancouver's economic growth.

 
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