Feature: Anchorage packed as Trump-Putin summit looms

For Anchorage -- a city more familiar with fishing boats and cruise ships than the flashbulbs of a geopolitical showdown -- the summit has transformed ordinary street corners into datelines for the global press.

by Xinhua Writers Tan Jingjing, Gao Shan

ANCHORAGE, United States, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- In one of the best seasons to be in Anchorage -- the peak of the salmon run and the height of berry season, the largest city of the U.S. state of Alaska has taken on the atmosphere of a global stage.

In just a few hours, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet here for a high-stakes summit -- the first visit by a Russian president to the United States since 2015, and a rare face-to-face encounter between the two heads of state.

At the gate of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, a military facility and also the venue of the summit, there was a forest of camera lenses as international reporters tested equipment and rehearsed shots, preparing to beam images across the world.

While the White House and Kremlin have kept the formal agenda under wraps, analysts expect the leaders to discuss a range of issues, from the Ukraine crisis to easing economic pressure on Russia and possible U.S.-Russia cooperation.

"Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. But more than six months have passed, and no ceasefire has been achieved," Gathak, a local Lyft driver who did not provide a full name, told Xinhua.

For Anchorage -- a city more familiar with fishing boats and cruise ships than the flashbulbs of a geopolitical showdown -- the summit has transformed ordinary street corners into datelines for the global press.

In downtown coffee shops, local residents and visitors sip strong brews while discussing what the talks might yield.

"The summit has become a hot topic among our customers," said Adiah Velez, a barista at Dark Horse Coffee, which sits across from the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage, where the White House has set up a press center for the summit. Her shop is packed to capacity.

But for most locals, Velez said, it does not feel directly connected to Alaska. "I haven't really been focused on it myself -- though I know some people feel uneasy about it."

For many Alaskans, the meeting has unique resonance. Across the Bering Strait lies Russia's Far East -- a reminder that the two nations are not only geopolitical rivals, but also neighbors whose closest points are separated by just 4 kilometers.

"It's rare to see world leaders meeting here," Jein Yi, a cashier at Alaska's Gourmet Subs, a homemade sandwich and pizza restaurant in downtown Anchorage, told Xinhua.

Local businesses are already feeling the effects. Hotels are fully booked, restaurants are crowded, and rental car prices have spiked.

"We are running out of cars," Isil Mico, a salesperson at Ace Car Rental near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, told Xinhua. "It's peak tourist season already, and now the summit is here. The city is packed, and all eyes are on Anchorage."

Meanwhile, protesters and advocacy groups are staging demonstrations ahead of the summit, seeking to draw attention to a range of issues.

Visit Anchorage, formerly the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau, cautioned residents to be patient "as we all accommodate potential changes to our planned routines and schedules."

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said her administration is standing by to provide any assistance that may be needed.

"The level of professionalism we have, the level of readiness makes me feel very confident that we will, in fact, be prepared to host this really important meeting," LaFrance said.■