President Bush Discusses Pandemic Influenza, HIV/AIDS, and Other Health Concerns at the 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Forum in Ha Noi, Vietnam

November 22, 2006, Ha Noi, Viet Nam - President Bush attended the14th Leaders’ Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting on November 19, 2006, in Ha Noi, Viet Nam with 20 other world leaders. While the major emphasis was on global economics, improving health preparedness was also on the agenda. According to the White House, President Bush and other leaders endorsed APEC’s Action Plan on the Prevention and Response to Avian and Influenza Pandemics. They committed themselves to timely and complete reporting of both human and avian influenza cases, and expressed support for the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza.

President Bush and State President Nguyen Minh Triet of Viet Nam also met on bilateral issues that included science and technology and humanitarian aid. It is hoped that more students from Viet Nam will be able to study in the United States. President Bush praised Viet Nam’s actions to control highly pathogenic avian influenza as a model for the region and noted that the country’s timely, effective and transparent response has prevented any human outbreaks since October 2005.

Upon leaving Ha Noi, the President and Mrs. Bush toured the Institut Pasteur in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, to learn about the Institut’s HIV/AIDS and avian influenza research and to discuss Viet Nam’s prevention and awareness effort for these diseases. Officials with the U.S. Government and Viet Nam’s Ministry of Health signed an action plan in January 2006 for efforts from 2006 through 2008 to cover the HIV/AIDS programs funded by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan). By 2008, the Emergency Plan will provide antiretroviral drugs to 22,000 HIV-positive people in Viet Nam, and provide care for 110,000 people living with or affected by AIDS. Viet Nam is one of the focus countries for the Emergency Plan, and the two countries have worked closely combat HIV/AIDS.

The President and Mrs. Bush later traveled to Indonesia, where the President met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and participated in a civil-society roundtable and an educational event.

Last revised: November 20, 2007