APEC's big enchilada
What does the size and pageantry of an official recpetion at APEC say about a world leader?
Well, when it comes to China arriving at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru this weekend, the warmth of the reception was a colourful signal that President Hu Jintao is indeed numero uno at this summit.
Alison Crawford
When Hu arrived at the airport in Lima, he was greeted by an enormous honour guard of around 1,000 soldiers. A long red carpet snaked around the tarmac so Hu could meet dozens of dignitaries as he alighted from his plane. His wife was handed a huge bouquet of yellow flowers.
Hu then joined Peruvian President Alan Garcia for a drive through the streets of Lima (even standing up at times) in a vintage Cadillac surrounded by officers on horseback and more soldiers.
It has been reported that, for the first time ever, the Chinese delegation here at APEC is larger than that of the United States.
Contrast Hu's arrival with that of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
When Harper arrived at Lima on Friday night, the tarmac was silent; the PM was greeted by Peru's minister of mines and energy and he walked a red carpet about the size of a large bath mat before getting into a vehicle and speeding off to a one-on-one meeting with the president of Colombia.
— Alison Crawford
About the Authors
- Rosemary Barton started her television career reporting from Quebec City where she covered the ins and outs of Quebec politics. She moved to the CBC Parliamentary Bureau in 2007. She also stood on the side of road awaiting U.S. President Barack Obama's motorcade for hours in the cold. When she finally spotted him, all of Canada heard her shriek, "I saw him!"
- Alison Crawford worked in Fredericton, Calgary and Winnipeg before returning to her hometown to work in the CBC parliamentary bureau. Her beats include the RCMP, justice, public safety and the Liberals. Alison credits her investigative skills as well as a national etiquette column and coverage of a ferret Christmas party, with having prepared her for covering national politics.
- Andrew Davidson is a producer for the CBC politics page in Toronto. He joined CBCNews.ca's national desk in 2006 and was the lead news writer for the website's 2008 federal election coverage.
- Chris Hall is the National Affairs Editor for CBC News. He's been a member of the CBC Parliamentary Bureau since 1998. That adds up to 11 budgets, four elections, three prime ministers and too many confidence votes to count. Chris started his career in print before moving to the CBC in 1992. Since then, he's worked in Toronto, Halifax and St. John's, as well as Ottawa.
- Leslie MacKinnon Leslie's been working in news and current affairs since newsrooms used teletype, televison was shot on film and radio tape was edited with a razor blade. She saw through The Journal's long run on CBC-TV, and since then has worked in Halifax, Toronto and Ottawa in the CBC's various permutations. Right now, she's a TV news reporter in the political bureau, and likes certain parts of Ottawa - the canal, the Hill - a lot.
- Janyce McGregor has been a television producer in the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau since 2001. She started her career working for Studio 2 on TVOntario. In 2005 her then-doctoral student husband persuaded her to follow him to the U.K., where she worked for BBC World Service Radio in London. Janyce is originally a farm girl from southwestern Ontario. Her most important job title is "Norah's Mom."
- Chris Rands has been a member of the Parliamentary bureau since 2001. He started at Toronto's AM Radio giant CFRB before moving to CBC's National Radio News in 1996. Chris has worked in Toronto, Moncton, Sudbury, Regina, Washington and St John's. Every time Chris walks up to the Peace Tower, he wants to throw his hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore.
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