조지 부시 미국 대통령은 베트남에서 열리는 아시아 태평양 경제 협력체, APEC 정상 회담을 앞두고 모스크바를 잠시 방문했습니다. 미국 대통령 전용기인 에어포스 원은 세계 표준시로 12시 바로 직전 모스크바 누코보 공항에 예정대로 도착했습니다.
부시 대통령과 푸틴 러시아 대통령, 양국 정상 부인들은 서로 따뜻한 인사를 교환하고 이어 오찬을 나누기 위해 대리석으로 꾸며진 연회장으로 향했습니다. 두정상은 이란 핵문제와 국제 무역 문제, 러시아의 WTO 가입등 국제 현안들에 관해 개인적 견해들을 교환할 것으로 전망됩니다. 부시 대통령이 모스크바에 머무는 시간은 두시간이 채 안될 것으로 예상됩니다.
이후 부쉬 대통령은 에이펙 정상회담 참석을 위해 하노이로 향하기 전 16일 하룻동안 싱가폴에 머물예정입니다.
스티븐 헤들리 국가 안보 보좌관은 부시 대통령이 싱가폴에서 , 테러와의 전쟁, 질병과의 전쟁 , 그밖의 여러가지 도전들에 맞서 아시아 국가들과 미국이 함께 협력해야 한다고 촉구할 것이라고 말했습니다.
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President Bush stopped in Moscow today (Wednesday) to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam.
The two presidents and their wives exchanged warm greetings on the tarmac at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, then walked to a marble-floored reception hall for lunch (featuring Russian specialties including herring and beet salad, blini with caviar and pickled cabbage).
Correspondents say Mr. Bush and Mr. Putin were expected to meet privately about the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program and about trade issues, including Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization.
The Bushes' stopover in Moscow is expected to last less than two hours, and they will resume their 19-hour flight to Singapore once the U.S. presidential jet is refueled.
The Russian and U.S. leaders will meet again Friday at an official dinner in Hanoi preceding the summit -- two days of talks (on Saturday and Sunday) by leaders from APEC's 21 members.
While in Singapore Thursday, Mr. Bush is expected to deliver a speech setting the theme for his weeklong Asian trip. A White House official says the president will offer the Pacific Rim nations the United States' cooperation in efforts to confront terrorism, control disease and deal with other pressing issues.
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Meetings by ministers from APEC's 21 member economies have already begun in Hanoi. The heads of state will assemble for a dinner on Friday, then spend Saturday and Sunday in talks. The schedule includes two private "retreat" sessions, intended to encourage a candid exchange of opinions and allow time for separate, private talks between the participants.
Most policy analysts say the nuclear dispute with North Korea will dominate side meetings at the summit. Mr. Bush is expected to discuss the issue of Tibet and the Dalai Lama during a private meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
The gathering of international leaders in Hanoi comes at a time when host-country Vietnam and the United States are having difficulty in establishing normal trade ties.
Monday, a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives failed to approve a bill normalizing trade relations with Vietnam, after concerns were raised about the dumping of textiles on the U.S. market and Vietnam's human-rights problems.
After leaving Hanoi on Monday, Mr. Bush will conclude his Asian tour in Indonesia. He will return to Washington late Tuesday after stopping in Hawaii to meet with U.S. troops.