Shanghai greets with a smile, hides inconveniences

Tiffany Wu

Shanghai greeted a week of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) meetings on Monday with smiles despite the significant inconveniences imposed by a massive security operation made even tighter since the September 11 attacks in the US. Severe traffic restrictions and ubiquitous, grim-faced security guards were cast out of mind as Shanghai folk jostled to snap pictures of a giant Apec billboard in front of the soaring Pearl Orient Tower a block from the conference venue.

Shanghai will close off more of the city as the summit approaches—with US President George W Bush scheduled to attend the largest gathering of world leaders on Chinese soil in modern history, if not ever. “Business has been terrible since October 1 when they started the traffic controls,” said Liu Junjie, who works in a Chinese arts and crafts store in the heart of the Lujiazui financial district where the meetings are being held.

China has a 10,000-strong security force patrolling Shanghai, a city of towering skyscrapers and famed for the historic Bund riverfront. Armed soldiers are posted at city limits and police guard major thoroughfares and waterways.

People grouse that traffic rerouting means the walk from the bus stop to the office is now 20 minutes instead of five. Some worry that the three-day holiday starting on Wednesday, given to ease traffic for Apec, will disrupt business. But most say the inconveniences are a small price to pay if the event draws more foreign investment to Shanghai and boosts its economy. “The world’s not a very good place now, what with the global economy in tatters and September 11. This is a good time to promote Shanghai,” said Flora Zhai, 33, an insurance saleswoman.

Many people said they did not expect an attack on Apec, not in China, where security is normally tight. Lujiazui shopowners say they have to close on Saturday, the start of the 21-leader summit that Mr Bush, Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to attend. Twenty-year old university student Chen Li, working through her three-day holiday as an Apec volunteer, said: “We’re all very supportive because we have the big picture in mind.”

— Reuters