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Bush in Thailand for APEC summit
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- President Bush arrived Saturday night in Bangkok, Thailand, ahead of Monday's summit with Asian and Pacific leaders that will focus on trade and security. Earlier in the day, in a historic address to the Philippine Congress, Bush hailed the U.S.-Philippine military alliance against terrorism as a "rock of stability in the Pacific." "We are honored to visit America's oldest ally in Asia and one of America's most valued friends in the world," he said. The president is on an eight-day tour of Asia, which began in Japan and is centered around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, being held in the Thai capital amid tight security. Leaders from Russia, China, Australia and 17 other nations will join Bush at the meeting. Trade and security are expected to dominate the talks, according to White House officials. One challenge for Bush will be winning more support for his policies toward Iraq and North Korea. The president wants the APEC leaders to warn North Korea about its nuclear ambitions, and he will discuss plans for another round of six-party talks with the Pyongyang regime. Two key players in those talks -- China and Russia -- want Bush to offer security assurances to North Korea, but he is under pressure at home not to offer any concessions until North Korea agrees to end its nuclear weapons program. Bush was the first U.S. president to address the Philippine Congress since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1960. In his Manila speech, he also praised the Philippine government for supporting the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo held a formal state dinner welcoming Bush at the Malacanang presidential palace. In a joint news conference, Bush praised Arroyo's strong leadership against the Abu Sayyaf terror network. "There are no rules when it comes to a crowd like Abu Sayyaf," Bush said at a joint news conference. "They kidnap, they kill, they maim. "There's only one way to deal with them, and that's to find them and to bring them to justice, which is precisely what the Arroyo government has been doing." Discussing the war on terrorism, Bush told reporters before his departure from the United States that he understands many people in Southeast Asia, especially Muslims, are suspicious of U.S. motives. Bush says he hopes the trip improves perceptions of the United States. But he also says Muslim and government leaders in the region have a responsibility not to let -- as he put it -- a few killers define their faith or their countries. Because of security concerns, Bush traveled on to Bangkok, rather than spending the night in Manila. Following the APEC meeting, Bush will make short stops in Singapore, Indonesia and Australia, before returning home on Friday. CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King and White House Correspondent Dana Bash contributed to this report.
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