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Apec summit to push trade talks Apec summit to push trade talks
(about 3 hours later)
Asian-Pacific leaders are expected to tackle a deadlock in global trade talks at a key regional summit on Saturday. Asia-Pacific leaders are to pledge to tackle a deadlock in global trade talks at a key regional summit in Vietnam.
Delegates from 21 nations will also focus on the North Korean nuclear crisis at the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum. In a draft statement circulated before the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum, the leaders say they will take the lead by making concessions.
US President George W Bush is attending the two-day talks in Vietnam, where he will meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.
World Trade Organization (WTO) talks collapsed in July after countries failed to reach agreement on subsidies.World Trade Organization (WTO) talks collapsed in July after countries failed to reach agreement on subsidies.
The North Korean nuclear crisis is set to dominate bilateral meetings between US President George W Bush and others.
Mr Bush may also use the summit to try to gather support for a free trade zone between the organisation's 21 members.
Correspondents say the proposal is seen as an insurance policy in case efforts to revive world trade talks fail.
'Ambitious agreement''Ambitious agreement'
The global WTO talks were meant to boost free trade for the benefit of developing countries.The global WTO talks were meant to boost free trade for the benefit of developing countries.
History lessons on Hanoi's streets for President BushIn pictures
But an inability by the US and Europe to agree over how to reduce agricultural subsidies caused the talks to stall in the so-called Doha round.But an inability by the US and Europe to agree over how to reduce agricultural subsidies caused the talks to stall in the so-called Doha round.
Apec's trade and foreign ministers have agreed to press their leaders to issue a statement on trade in the course of the conference. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_vietnam_visit/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_vietnam_visit/html/1.stm', '1163773741', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">History lessons on Hanoi's streets for President Bush href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_vietnam_visit/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_vietnam_visit/html/1.stm', '1163773741', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
According to the draft statement, the 21 Apec leaders will say: "We are ready to break the current deadlock: each of us is committed to move beyond our current positions in key areas of the Doha round."
This will mean opening up agriculture markets and "making deeper reductions in trade-distorting farm support by major players", it says.
The leaders will pledge to "remain personally involved" in pushing negotiations forward and trying to secure a breakthrough.
Apec's trade and foreign ministers agreed to press their leaders to issue a statement on trade in the course of the two-day conference.
"Only an ambitious Doha agreement with real market access can achieve the economic growth and development goals that this world has set," Mr Bush said in Singapore before heading to Hanoi."Only an ambitious Doha agreement with real market access can achieve the economic growth and development goals that this world has set," Mr Bush said in Singapore before heading to Hanoi.
Hostile regimes
The forum in the Vietnamese capital is also expected to focus on economic security threats and the North Korean nuclear crisis.The forum in the Vietnamese capital is also expected to focus on economic security threats and the North Korean nuclear crisis.
Hanoi gets set for big day China challenges US at forum
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told business leaders on Friday that economic security must be on every country's agenda.
This would ensure they could work together against such threats as terrorism, flu pandemics and natural disasters, he said.
On North Korea, Mr Bush has urged regional countries to make it clear that any North Korean proliferation of nuclear technology to terrorists or hostile regimes "would not be tolerated".On North Korea, Mr Bush has urged regional countries to make it clear that any North Korean proliferation of nuclear technology to terrorists or hostile regimes "would not be tolerated".
On arrival in Hanoi, Mr Bush said he would seek the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.On arrival in Hanoi, Mr Bush said he would seek the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
He also vowed to maintain strong US engagement in Asia and is urging regional leaders to consider a free trade area. He is to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
He will hold bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, among others.
Kyoto alternativesKyoto alternatives
Mr Bush said he felt amazed to be in Vietnam given the two countries' difficult history, following his arrival on Friday. Speaking after his arrival on Friday, Mr Bush said he felt amazed to be in Vietnam given the two countries' difficult history.
href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6157116.stm" class="">Hanoi gets set for big day href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6150406.stm" class="">China challenges US at forum Following talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Bush said he would consult Australia over any repositioning of troops in Iraq.
He held talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, focused on the situation in Iraq.
He said he would consult Australia over any repositioning of troops in Iraq.
The two leaders also discussed climate change. Mr Howard had promised to seek support for alternatives to the Kyoto Protocol.The two leaders also discussed climate change. Mr Howard had promised to seek support for alternatives to the Kyoto Protocol.
Meanwhile New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark urged Apec leaders to include climate change on their agenda, warning of "dire" consequences if action was delayed.Meanwhile New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark urged Apec leaders to include climate change on their agenda, warning of "dire" consequences if action was delayed.