The long expected "Mystery of the Leaders' Wear" is finally known, when the APEC Economic Leaders are assembling in their attire.
The attire consists of a tapestry satin jacket and an off-white silk shirt. The design retains the style of traditional Chinese garments while giving expression to features of modern wear.
The making displays the best of Chinese tradition of fine hand workmanship and Chinese-style buttons. The special selected fabric feels soft and smooth as natural silk and green fibers are applied with green dying and finishing.
The floral design presents a round flower pattern with peonies, Chinese famous flower, surrounding the four letters "APEC", symbolizing the best wishes of the Chinese people for a successful gathering of the APEC community in Shanghai, China, according to Mr. Sun Weimin, Director of the Shanghai Preparatory Office for APEC 2001.
It took nearly one year for the design, sample-selection and making of the attire, but the fierce bidding for the making garment began as early as the beginning of last year among a dozen of state-owned and private garment companies.
The final design distinguished itself from over 40 other samples offered by the two garment companies.
In terms of colors, the host also provided such a large dazzling variety for the Leaders as red, wine red, green, blue, brown and black, etc. Eventually, the blue color won the favor from most of them.
The materialization of the final design draft began last July, which has been kept secret for nearly half a year. The making of the attire has been initiated based on the size of each individual APEC economic leader.
To make sure that each leader has his or her suitable attire, two suits of it have been ready: one a finished piece, the other a semi-finished one subject to adjustment. Upon the arrival of each economic leader in the golden season of October, the traditional Chinese garments have been presented to them. It is pleased to see that most of the garments have well fitted the Leaders.
President Jiang Zemin shook hands with Australian Prime Minister John Howard
President Jiang with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
President Jiang with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien
President Jiang with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar
President Jiang with Tung Chee Hwa (R), chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
President Jiang with Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri
President Jiang with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
President Jiang with Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Bin Mohamad
President Jiang with Vicente Fox, president of Mexico
President Jiang with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Mekere Morauta
President Jiang with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo
President Jiang with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President Jiang with Kim Dae-jung, president of the Republic of Korea
President Jiang with Russian President Vladimir Putin
President Jiang with Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
President Jiang with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
President Jiang with US President George W. Bush
President Jiang with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
President Jiang with Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand
(china.org.cn October 23, 2001)
