Will presidents Trump and Putin meet? That was one of the big questions as world leaders gathered for the APEC summit in Vietnam. <br /><br />The White House has said no formal encounter is planned due to scheduling conflicts, though there is still a chance the two leaders could interact in an informal manner on the sidelines of the summit. <br /><br />Speaking in Danang, President Trump vigoriously defended his America first vision of the world, declaring the US would no longer tolerate chronic trade abuses. <br /><br />“From this day forward we will compete on a fair and equal basis. We are not going to let the USA to be taken advantage of anymore. I am always going to put America first the same way that I expect all of you in the this room to put your countries first,” Trump said. <br /><br />North Korea is likely to top any talks between the US and Russian leaders’ as President Trump seeks to build a consensus against Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. <br /><br />“The future in this region and its beautiful people must not be held hostage to a dictator’s twisted fantasies of violent conquest and nuclear blackmail,” Trump declared. <br /><br />Security in the beach resort city of Danang was inevitably tight as leaders from the region gathered. <br /><br />The Apec summit brings together 21 Asia-Pacific economies, representing around 60 percent of the world’s GDP.<br />
