Pacific Rim leaders are pushing the twin goals of less terrorism and more trade as they head into a tightly-guarded summit in Bangkok, but persistent divisions between rich and poor nations could hinder any real progress toward restarting WTO talks.

Unlike other major international meetings, there were no signs of demonstrations by anti-globalization protesters. Thailand has taken extensive measures to keep more than 500 "potential troublemakers" out of the country and a massive security ring has been set up around the capital to deter terror attacks.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is formally intended to boost the group's goals of free and open trade and investments - by 2010 for developed members and 2020 for developing members.

But participants including US President George W. Bush are increasingly delving into security issues closely linked with prospects for stable economic growth.

Foreign and trade ministers who meet today were expected to stake out positions on geopolitical issues, including the Democratic People's Republic of Korean nuclear crisis, Myanmar's detention of its pro-democracy leader and economic worries such as restarting World Trade Organization talks that recently failed in the Mexican resort of Cancun.

The SARS crisis that hit Asia also prompted them to seek better ways to mount a better-coordinated response to new infectious disease outbreaks.

When APEC leaders meet on Monday and Tuesday, Bush likely will weigh in again with charges that China and Japan are keeping their currencies undervalued - to the detriment of a US economy held back by big trade deficits with both Asian powers.

"Markets ought to be determining respective currencies," Bush said as he set off for a nine-day trip.

Close