Bangkok, Oct 20: Threats from terrorists and North Korea overshadowed pressing global trade issues at the start of the Asia-Pacific summit today, as the United States insisted that the entire world was at risk. "Every nation, every economy represented here, every business, ever leader, every one of us is a potential target for terrorist activities," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said. "And we ... must do everything in our power to fight this threat and to keep the world safe."
Later US President George W. Bush joined the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to campaign for his war on terror, other leaders pressed ahead with the 21-member group's core theme - promoting free trade.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Mohamad Mahathir said it was a mistake to change APEC's focus, but Bush appeared seemed to have won the day. Bureau Report