Bush Starts Visit to Germany

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 23, 2002

Bush Starts Visit to Germany

U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Berlin on Wednesday evening for a 20-hour working visit to Germany, with security issues high on his agenda.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Berlin on Wednesday evening for a 20-hour working visit to Germany, with security issues high on his agenda.

Immediately after his arrival, Bush went into a dinner with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in a restaurant near the Adlon Hotel, where the U.S. president is staying. The two leaders will hold a formal round of talks on Thursday.

Bush will also meet German President Johannes Rau and deliver a speech at the Bundestag (lower chamber of parliament), before leaving for Moscow on Thursday afternoon. Bush's European trip will also take him to France and Italy.

On the eve of his visit, Bush told the German newspaper " Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung" that he wants to strengthen the transatlantic relations, praise the allies for their help in the war against terrorism, and also prepare them for "many and hard tasks" ahead.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was accompanying Bush, told the press shortly after the arrival in Berlin that Bush and Schroeder would discuss policies concerning Iraq, Afghanistan, trade and the arms treaty with Russia.

However, European countries, including Germany, have been increasingly concerned about Washington's intention to widen the anti-terrorism war and its tendency of unilateralism.

Peter Struck, parliamentary leader of the ruling Social- democratic Party of Deutschland (SPD), said at a TV program that he would raise the concerns over possible military action against Iraq when Bush meets German parliamentarians.

Bush should also be prepared to hear criticism over the U.S. rejection of treaties on climate protection and international court on war crimes, he said.

Meanwhile, 20,000 people on Wednesday evening demonstrated on streets not far away from the Adlon Hotel, to protest against U.S. foreign policies. This is the second day of such demonstration in Berlin.

Some young men burnt a U.S. flag and threw bottles and rock at policemen, who later detained several demonstrators, local press said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

100,000 Protest Bush's Visit in Berlin

US President Stresses Need to Fight Global Terror

China Announces World Cup Squad ( 3 Messages)

UNDP Starts Research on Chinese Women in WTO ( 21 Messages)

Philippines Engages in Expansions in China's Nansha ( 11 Messages)

Study Shows Chinese Youths' Poor in Creative Ability ( 41 Messages)

China Is Among Countries with Wide Income Gap ( 178 Messages)

China Sets to Land on Moon by 2010 ( 23 Messages)

Many Hurdles for Free Trade between Mainland and HK ( 7 Messages)

China-Designed Turbojet Joins Air Force ( 20 Messages)