Photo: Gabriel Mistral/EPAFollowing Vietnam 2006, fans of world leaders in unusual attire must now wait until next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Australia to see what George Bush and partners are asked to wear.
But the fact remains that whoever came up with the idea of posing Pacific-area leaders in the national dress of the host nation was onto a winner.
While other regional meetings have their charms (through the night negotiating followed by some sort of fudge at EU summits, for example) Apec's dressing up session at least makes for good photographs.
The best invariably involve Mr Bush and Vladimir Putin. As in this weekend's photographs from Hanoi (above), there is something incongruous about seeing these two swapping their usual suits for bright blue Asian silks.
But other fabrics do the job just as well. The 2004 Santiago summit, hosted by the then Chilean president, Richard Lagos (below, left) is seared into the memory as the one at which Mr Bush and Mr Putin were snapped in rather fetching Chilean poncos.
Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
From Mr Bush's point of view, there are only two more Apecs to go. While Peru 2008 would seem to promise some sort of hat and poncho combination, Mr Bush must surely be hoping for more from the 2007 event in Australia.
In the past, Canada has asked Apec leaders to wear brown leather jackets so, in theory, some sort of rugged outback wear could allow him to demonstrate his Texan swagger on the world stage.
But there is no reason it has to work out like that. He could be asked to wear Speedos.
Here are some previous outfits.
Thailand 2003
Clockwise from top: John Howard, Austrlian prime minister, George Bush, Philippines president Gloria Arroyo and Mahathir bin Mohammad, then Malaysian PM. Photo: Dennis Sabangan/EPA
China 2001
Vladimir Putin, George Bush, then Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa walk. Photo: Eriko Sugita/AP
