Chapter 7 - Sleepless in Seattle

Summary

The general atmosphere at the Seattle meetings was very positive. Even the weather, unpredictable in that part of the country at best, co-operated and there was sunshine almost all of the time. Seattle is a mid-sized city in the American northwest. It is famous for its salmon, intellectual life and a damp and rainy climate. It is also a major U.S. gateway for trade with Asia. Its importance to Pacific trade, and the fact that Seattle is home to such international giants as Boeing, Microsoft, and Weyerhauser, made it an appropriate U.S. city to host the 1993 APEC Ministerial Meeting.

When President Clinton decided to host the APEC Leaders' Meeting there as well, the logistics became a little sticky. But the people of Seattle rose to the occasion, and their hospitality and warm welcome reflected the very best American qualities. Fortunately, two friends from the state Department, Chris Runkel and Pat O'Brien (who had helped me set up the secretariat in the early days) were in charge of a major part of the logistics and they did an incredible job. They also ensured that the secretariat was set up so that it could function efficiently.

Everywhere you looked, including the Space Needle, there were posters and “WELCOME APEC” signs. Even the local adult movie house joined in the act with a risque marquee welcoming the delegates. The local citizens endured the intrusive security measures, the VIP motorcades that tied up traffic and the overtaxed facilities with good cheer and humour. It seemed perfectly appropriate that the theatres in the city were showing “Sleepless in Seattle”.

In addition to the official APEC meetings, there was a customs fair, an international business forum, meetings of PBEC and PECC, and numerous bilateral diplomatic meetings, including the first high-level meeting between China and the United States since 1989. The three official APEC meetings were the SOM, the Ministerial Meeting, and the Informal Leaders' Meeting on Blake Island in Puget Sound, with President Clinton as host.