SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Economic Forum (WEF)
kicked off its annual meeting on the Middle East at the Egyptian Red Sea resort
of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the meeting by giving a
keynote speech at the opening session of the three-day event, which was attended
by some 14 heads of state and government including U.S. President George W.
Bush.
Bush is now giving a special address at the opening session on the
situation of the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue.
On Saturday, Bush reassured his commitment to achieving an
Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of the year.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas in the Egyptian Red Sea resort, Bush said he was "absolutely committed" to
the objective to achieve the Mideast peace deal as "it breaks my heart" to see
the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The WEF Mideast conference also brought together over 1,500 high-ranking
officials, leading business figures, leaders of civil society and the media from
some 60 countries and regions.
With the theme of "Learning from the Future," the three-day event will
focus on a series of futuristic scenarios that explore the impact of long-term
global trends on the Middle East.
Some hot topics, such as regional tourism, water resources, sustainable
development in the region, soaring food prices and the consequences of global
inflation on Mideast, will also be high on the agenda of the international
meeting.
Incorporated as a foundation in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the
WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the
state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional
and industry agendas.
Bush confident on Mideast peace deal
despite Arab scepticism
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday
expressed his confidence on the objective to achieve a Middle
East peace deal before his term ends in January amid growing scepticism in
the Arab world.
Bush made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm
el-Sheikh, where he arrived earlier in the day to attend the opening session of
the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East on Sunday. Full story
Bush: Saudi Arabia's gain in oil
production "not
enough"
SHARM
EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's recent gain in oil
production is "something but it doesn't solve our problem" caused by
skyrocketing oil prices, U.S. President George W. Bush said here Saturday.
Bush made the remarks to reporters after a meeting with
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm
el-Sheikh, where he arrived earlier in the day to attend the opening session of
the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East on Sunday. Full story
