Vietnam 'torn' between U.S. and Russia as embattled Putin visits

HO CHI MINH CITY -- After visiting North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Vietnam, making the Southeast Asian nation the only country to host state visits for the leaders of China, the U.S. and Russia -- the world's top three military powers -- in the past year.

In a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Thursday afternoon, Putin and Vietnamese President To Lam emphasized the need for peace and called their relations a priority, state-controlled media reported. "Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam is one of our priorities," the Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Putin as saying. According to Reuters, Putin said, "Russia respects talks with ASEAN."