President Bush is in Singapore for the start of a three-nation Asia trip. The centerpiece of that trip is the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which this year is being held in Vietnam.
In President Bush's first trip to communist Vietnam, he will be joined by leaders of 20 other Pacific Rim nations, including China and Russia. Their goal is to advance economic and security cooperation. As the president heads toward Hanoi, Vietnam is preparing to showcase the considerable progress it has made in recent decades.
Hosting President Bush and the other leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will thrust Vietnam onto the world stage.
The country's entry into the World Trade Organization and the anticipated passage of U.S.-Vietnam Trade legislation also testify to the country's rapidly growing economy and regional influence.
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