WASHINGTON – President Bush heads out Tuesday night for an eight-day trip to Asia that will include his first-ever visit to Vietnam.
The highlight of the trip is the Pacific Rim summit in Vietnam. Trade, terrorism and bird flu will be the dominant topics of discussion, said National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
Hadley said Southeast Asia has an active terrorist presence with links to Al Qaeda.
At the same time, the United States and Vietnam are rapidly strengthening their ties and Bush hopes Congress passes a new trade bill this week.
En route to Vietnam, the president will make a stop in Moscow and Singapore. On his return home from Vietnam, the president will visit Indonesia and Hawaii.
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