(AP) - President Bush leaves today 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. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley says trade, terrorism and bird flu will be the dominant topics of discussion, reports Trend.
Hadley says Southeast Asia has an active terrorist presence with links to al-Qaida.
At the same time, the U.S. 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.