WORLD> Asia-Pacific
White House confirms Bush-Medvedev meeting
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-22 15:16

WASHINGTON  -- US President George W. Bush will meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru on Saturday, the White House said.


US President George W. Bush waves upon his arrival in Lima November 21, 2008. Bush is in Peru to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.  [Agencies]
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino made the confirmation while Bush is flying to Lima, Peru to attend the annual meeting of the 21-member APEC group.

The scheduled US-Russia summit meeting will be closed to the media, according to Perino.

US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe predicted on Wednesday that Bush and Medvedev are likely to talk about the situation in Georgia, the global financial crisis, the US anti-missile defense program and other issues of mutual concerns.

Relations between Moscow and Washington have worsened this year to a state not seen since the end of the Cold War over August's conflict between Russian and Georgia and US plans to install a new missile shield in East Europe.

Some 3,600 delegates, including top leaders, ministers and senior officials, are expected to attend the APEC Leaders' Week on Nov. 16-23 to discuss such topics as the global financial crisis, APEC's support for the World Trade Organization's Doha Round negotiations, APEC regional economic integration, investment promotion, and economic and technical cooperation, as well as climate changes and food security.