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Sultan Leaves For Hanoi To Attend Apec Summit
By Azrol Azmi & Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday left for Hanoi, Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Upon arrival at the Brunei International Airport, His Majesty was greeted by HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah. Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Hj AlMuhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and HRH Prince Abdul Malik.

Also present to bid His Majesty farewell were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior government officers.

Prior to His Majesty's departure, a doa selamat was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the state Mufti.

In Hanoi, Southeast Asian leaders and US President George W Bush will discuss ways to enhance trade and counterterrorism cooperation when they meet on the sidelines of the Summit, AP reported.

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Bush and leaders of seven countries belonging to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will meet Saturday, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said.

"We'll be talking about the importance of the Americans continuing to take a strong interest in this region," he said.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said the ministers would discuss political, economic and security issues along with the concerns of individual Asean members.

Total trade between Asean and the US rose 12.4 per cent to US$152 billion last year.

In August, the US and Asean signed a Trade and Investment Facilitation Arrangement, a nonbinding agreement aimed at bolstering trade and investment.

Although economic cooperation is likely to top the agenda at Bush's talks with Aseasn leaders, Myanmar may also be discussed, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said earlier.

Washington has also been concerned over the presence of al-Qaeda-linked militants in Southeast Asia. It has deployed troops to the southern Philippines to help train and arm Philippine forces battling Muslim militants who have been linked to Osama bin Laden's network. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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