Putin begins historic trip to Vietnam

Stepping off his plane at Hanoi's airport and waving to reporters, Putin became the first top Russian leader to visit communist Vietnam, whose relationship with its former patron has changed from client state to a regional "bridge" in the past decade. Trade, military cooperation and Russia's lease on a key naval base topped the agenda for talks Thursday with Vietnam's ruling "troika".

Putin, a former KGB officer, indicated that Moscow will seek to reassert its role on the world stage through its Asia policy. He arrived in Hanoi following a high-profile trip to Korea. "Russia is a major player in the region," he told the official Vietnamese Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan in an interview published on Wednesday. "We hold that our role in the Asia-Pacific region is to try to form a non-alliance association here."

He said he will also seek support for Russia's opposition to what he called the United States' "plot" to establish a new missile defence system, which Moscow and China say will trigger a new global arms race. Trade, military cooperation and Russia's lease on a key naval base topped the agenda for talks to be held on Thursday with Vietnam's leaders.

Observers said, however, that Putin - whose tough, no-nonsense image stands in stark contrast to former President Boris Yeltsin - would be warmly received by Vietnam's aging communist leadership as an agent for boosted cooperation towards mutual economic and strategic objectives. Analysts said Putin is likely be well received well as a result of his decision last September to write off 85 per cent of debt owed by Vietnam to Moscow.

Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, President Tran Duc Loung and Prime Minister Pan Van Khai - the "troika" of leaders elected by the Communist Party's politburo - are to meet with Putin on Thursday. A key topic will be the future of the Cam Ranh Bay naval base in southern Vietnam. The Soviet Union used the base as its main Asian naval outpost, but the lease runs out in 2004 and Hanoi's leaders are reportedly seeking more money in rent.

(la/dpa)