From October 15 to 21, China hosted one of its grandest meetings in recent history -- the 9th APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders' Meeting -- in Shanghai with assurance, care and finally -- success. The event happened not long after terrorist attacks on the United States that left the whole world shocked and frightened by terrorism. The heads of the other 19 countries or economies who came to China to attend the meeting included President George W. Bush, who was on his first trip outside the United States following the events of September 11. China was glad of this but also felt great concern about his security. The organizing committee took on security concerns with special care. The event also happened at a time of slowdown in the world economy. Leaders and CEOs from 20 economies discussed remedies and ways to reestablish people's confidence. On the eve of October 20, Shanghai welcomed APEC leaders with magnificent fireworks and by October 21, when Chinese president Jiang Zemin read the Leaders' Declaration of the meeting, China felt it could relax with a job well done. Maybe, on their way home, leaders and CEOs felt that what they received in China was indeed friendship accompanied by a hope for peace and development.

The United States was hit with more outbreaks of anthrax. Two Washington postal workers, from the office that handled the contaminated letter sent to Tom Daschle, the Senate majority leader, died from inhalation anthrax, the most deadly form of the disease. Several other workers from the same office were suspected of having the disease, as was a worker from a sorting office in Trenton, New Jersey. Mass testing of postal workers began in Washington, DC, New Jersey and New York.

Envelops with white powder in them have been found in several countries. Some contained anthrax, some not – leaving people afraid and having to distinguish between what was terrorism and what was mischief.