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Bush set to deliver policy speech Bush to deliver key policy speech
(about 3 hours later)
US President George W Bush has arrived in Singapore on the first leg of an East Asian trip which will take him on to Vietnam and Indonesia. US President George W Bush is to deliver a key foreign policy speech in Singapore on his first overseas trip since heavy mid-term election losses.
He will deliver a speech at Singapore's national university in which he is expected to outline his foreign policy for the rest of his presidency. Mr Bush is on a three-nation tour that will take in an important Asia-Pacific economic summit in Vietnam.
Later he will attend the annual economic summit of 21 Asia-Pacific countries at the weekend in Hanoi. Key issues will be liberalising trade, tackling North Korea's nuclear threat, terrorism and promoting democracy.
North Korea and free trade are likely to be key issues at the summit. But analysts say his main task will be to reassure partners his role on the international stage has not weakened.
President Bush faces the difficult task of demonstrating American leadership in Asia at a time when its influence is being steadily eclipsed by China. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Singapore says Mr Bush must also demonstrate US leadership in Asia at a time when its influence is being steadily eclipsed by China.
Furthermore, his own position has been weakened after the Republican defeat in last week's mid-term elections. After heading on to Hanoi for this weekend's 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, he will visit Indonesia. Next week he travels to Europe for a Nato summit.
In the past he has preferred to present simple agendas here, demanding support on issues like terrorism and democracy. But the big issues at this year's Asia Pacific summit - free trade and North Korea's nuclear weapons programme - require a more nuanced American position. Free trade bill
China and Russia both oppose Mr Bush's call for tougher measures against North Korea and they have much greater sway over the North Korean leadership. Mr Bush will use his speech at the National University of Singapore on Thursday to outline US foreign policy in Asia for the rest of his presidency.
And whatever his own commitment to knocking down trade barriers in this region, Mr Bush's Asian hosts know that in these last two years of his presidency, his hands may be tied by a Democrat-controlled Congress with more protectionist instincts. He will highlight the history of US ties to the region, promote Asia-Pacific democracy and look for further cooperation on bird-flu, aides said.
It is unfortunate [the Vietnam trade bill] could not have been done before the president arrived Stephen Hadley,national security adviser China challenge at Apec
But the two main issues are likely to be free trade and security - terrorism and North Korea's nuclear programme.
Mr Bush will want to push forward the fragile coalition that is trying to curb North Korea's nuclear programme.
However, our correspondent says China and Russia both oppose Mr Bush's call for tougher measures against North Korea and they have much greater sway over the leadership there.
Our correspondent adds that, on free trade, whatever Mr Bush's own commitment to knocking down trade barriers in this region, his Asian hosts know that in the last two years of his presidency, his hands may be tied by a Democrat-controlled Congress with more protectionist instincts.
The Republicans lost both houses to the Democrats on 7 November.
President Bush started the day with a musical interlude
An historic bill to normalise trade with communist Vietnam failed in the House of Representatives this week.
White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said: "It is unfortunate that it could not have been done before the president arrived but I think the message for the Vietnamese people will be, this is going to get done."
After Mr Bush arrived on Thursday, he and the First Lady visited Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum and were treated to traditional Javanese and Singaporean music.
Mr Bush briefly tried to play a saron - an Asian-style xylophone - but said: "I'm going to quit while I'm ahead."
The president is likely to hold a number of meetings on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Hanoi at the weekend.
He will meet Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The possible forging of a free-trade agreement for all of the Apec members will be on the table.