Vietnam Pm Makes First Visit to Bush

The Vietnamese prime minister yesterday became his country's first communist leader to visit the White House. In the meeting, President George Bush announced that he supported Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

Phan Van Khai and Mr Bush also talked about steps towards religious freedom in Vietnam and efforts to find the remains of US troops from the Vietnam war.

Meanwhile around 300 protesters, including Vietnamese exiles who fled before the fall of Saigon 30 years ago, staged a noisy demonstration against what they claim were repressive conditions in Vietnam.

Mr Bush announced that he would visit the south-east Asian country next year. Mr Khai acknowledged that differences remain between the two nations, but said his visit proved that Vietnam-US relations had entered a new stage of development.

In the 10 years since diplomatic ties were restored after the war, the US has become Vietnam's top trading partner. The US has also been seeking closer ties in an attempt to blunt China's increasing influence in the region.