Bush spreads gospel of religious freedom

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Though no sermon was delivered Sunday in the church where President Bush took a "moment to converse with God," he offered his own precept outside.

"A whole society is a society which welcomes basic freedoms," Bush said, adding that there's none more basic than "the freedom to worship as you see fit."

Bush and his wife, Laura, visited Cua Bac Church, a Catholic basilica on a tree-lined street in the diplomatic district, to show support for Vietnam's faithful, who live under a government that tightly controls religious institutions.

"It's our way of expressing our personal faith and at the same time urging societies to feel comfortable with and confident in saying to their people, `If you feel like praising God, you're allowed to do so in any way you see fit,'" said Bush, on his first visit to communist Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Music dominated the Vietnamese-language ecumenical service. English-speaking parishioners understood a few words, including "Amen" and "alleluia."

Just this month, the United States removed Vietnam from a list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom.

But human rights groups say restrictions remain.

Nguyen Quoc Khanh, the priest at Cua Bac Church, reported that Bush said nothing during the service.

"We all had a silent dialogue with God," Khanh said.

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Bush beamed in baby blue. So did Chinese President Hu Jintao. Russian President Vladimir Putin, too.

Diplomacy over, world leaders faced one final, inescapable task at the end of their annual summit — donning the host country's costume.

Leaders at the APEC summit were invited to slip traditional Vietnamese "ao dai" silk tunics over their Western-style suits for the annual group photo — by far the most colorful ritual on their agenda.

The normally dour Hu was positively beaming. Putin joked cordially with Bush. The wide pink turbans worn by the three women leaders gave diminutive Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a few extra inches of height.

The custom-tailored, ankle-length ao dai, pronounced "ow zai," usually has a snug fit that is said to "reveal everything but show nothing."

But those the leaders wore appeared designed not to reveal too much. Fashioned by famous Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh, they afforded the leaders — most of whom have ample girths — a fairly comfortable fit.

Sky blue was the most popular color among men, with a smattering of reds, greens and yellows for a diplomatic rainbow effect.

The traditional ao dai includes a long tunic with slits up the sides.

The custom of posing in clothing symbolic of the host country began when the leaders wore leather bomber jackets at the first APEC summit in Seattle in 1993.

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Buried in a White House list of accomplishments from the summit was cheery news for foreign travelers: A faster way to get through U.S. airports.

It's the APEC Business Travel Card. Don't leave home without it.

The U.S. plans to start recognizing the card, which has existed since 1997.

Business travelers carrying one can look forward to speedier processing in fast-track lanes at major U.S. airports.

Cardholders must have a passport from a participating country, travel regularly to conduct trade in the APEC region and have no criminal record.

They also don't have to apply individually for visas or entry permits every time they travel to a country in the program. The card becomes their visa.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking to world business leaders at the summit on Saturday, touted the card as a way to foster trade and travel.

"Everywhere I go, I hear about the visa issues," Rice said. "Let me assure you that the United States of America wants to be open — open and secure — but open to a free flow of people."

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Associated Press writers Ben Stocking and Elaine Kurtenbach in Hanoi contributed to this report.