Cnn World Headquarters in atlanta. Cnn newsroom starts right now. 5 00 a. M. Here on the u. S. East coast. The u. S. President set to arrive in the capital of vietnam at any moment now. We continue to monitor this as part of his travels throughout asia. But in his previous stops there was there were several meetings. He crossed paths with his russian counterpart Vladimir Putin several times. We now know from russian state media. That a brief meeting did occur earlier between the two leaders. And reportedly resulted in a joint statement on the syria conflict. The kremlin says they spoke at the apec summit and agreed that they must push for peace on negotiations and maintain negotiations on the grounds on syria. Nic robertson is reporting, ivan watson is hanoi, where the president will be arriving any minute. First, nic, about this meeting only reported so far by russian state media. Thats unusual, isnt it . Reporter it is unusual. Its three hours now since the russian task news agency, the state news agency, first put details out saying that they agreed to continue fighting isis. That they agreed that they were going to, you know, continue the joint military coordination to avoid the skon fliblconflict an the area. And they agreed that it was not military but political and should be done under the resolution 2254. And the u. S. President saying that assad had signed up for that. What is odd here, all the detail thats task news agency listed these are all things that United States and russia would have been doing for some time. It would have been a headline saying that these have been cancelled but what theyre really saying is this is a continuation that this is already going on. Fact that we dont have any feeling from the white house this gives us a sum of a rerun between President Trump and president putin back in hamburg on the g20 where they met for 2 3 4 hours, but it was the russian side that came out initially with the details of what came out in that meeting. The white house seemed to play catchup with it then. But its not clear why we dont have a fuller picture from the white house. Really, we only have a partial accounting, if you will, of what really took place. All right, Nic Robertson, yes, unusual for sure. Well wait to hear what we hear from the white house. Unusual that the statement about syria comes out about the waning days of the war there. Lets turn to ivan watson because he is in hanoi, and were told that the president has just landed there, ivan. Reporter thats right, air force one has just landed here in the vietnamese capital. Vietnam is a country thats that enjoyed a blossoming of relationship with the u. S. All the more striking when you consider less than 50 years ago, these two countries were locked in a deadly long conflict with each other. Part of that due to the fact that vietnam sees the u. S. As a counterweight to its neighbor to the north china. If you go to museums here, you read about how vietnam has been engaged in wars with china, going back thousands of years. And china has laid claim to almost all of the South China Sea where vietnam has claimed some maritime territory. Thats put them at odds. And the u. S. Can challenge some of those claims that china has made. But the u. S. And vietnam are at odds on the issue of trade. Down in da nang, where you just heard from nic, thats where President Trump gave a long speech where he argued against broad, multilateral trade agreements arguing they infri e infringed on u. S. Sovereignty and they were not complied with. Well, vietnam has announced, the trade minister here, that the 11 other countries of the Transpacific Partnership which outgoing president obama had negotiated and that President Trump pulled out of. While 11 countries had unanimously agreed to finalize negotiations to sign up for that agreement, an agreement that the u. S. Is no longer part of. Another headscratching moment was that President Trump at that apec meeting talked about how he wanted to establish bilateral trade agreements that would be mutually beneficial. But then he didnt engage in any bilaterally meetings down in da nang. Now, he will engage in bilateral meetings with the leadership. The last time he sat down with the Prime Minister, they talked about a memorandum of understanding for future defense cooperation. And one of the areas there has been the u. S. Providing vietnam with a coast guard cutter. Talking perhaps of more of that on the way. That, again, comes to the issue of china. Coast guard cutters can help protect the vietnamese vote on its ongoing maritime territorial disputes with china. Ivan, i know youre covering the president as hes just arrived there in hanoi. Lets bring in cnns jill dougherty. Jill is live for us in moscow at this hour. Jill, good to have you. We just saw the two images of trump and putin together. And were getting a statement from russian state media, but nothing in the United States at this point. How does that strike you . A bit odd. Quite obviously, you know, you would expect that both sides would have this choreographed, as mostly happens at events like this, and they would work out things behind the scenes. They would time it. Both sides would make statements. And both sides would come out and probably do a little briefing on how it all happened. Now, what were getting is coming exclusively from the russian side. I was checking the kremlin website. And they have it there very specifically that this agreement, which is nothing new by the way, there are no, from what we can tell, new details in this statement. But that it was worked out by experts on both sides. Presumably the foreign ministry, u. S. State department. That it was agreed to by tillerson and mr. Lavrov, who are both the Foreign Ministers of each country. And then approved, approved, not worked out by, both president s. So that brings you back to this idea of a meeting. Well, from what we can see, and we have it on video, it was a meeting, a nice little shake hand session when they both had the blue shirts on. And then later when they were in suits walking down a little hill and chatting for a few minutes. We do not believe that there was any type of sitdown, in which the two leaders worked out this statement. This was precooked. And precooked because it really didnt change the equation in syria. So then i think the ultimate question is why couldnt they get beyond this . And the russians did, apparently, want to do something much broader. There was speculation, near speculation, no confirmation of this, that maybe it would include some type of deal on ukraine, and it would be a tit for tat. But that certainly did not happen. In fact, very little happened. And i would note one more thing, george, i was just looking at the task news agency, a russian news agency. They said that in fact, the meeting in da nang at apec were, quote, the biggest intrigue of the summit. So, that gives you the idea that there was probably more behind the scenes than in front of the cameras this time. Okay. Again, were able to confirm this from the russian side. Were not able to confirm this from the u. S. Side. Jill dougherty live for us in moscow. Thank you for the reporting. Until we do, well talk about the other aspect of the president s trip to asia with glenn shive, the executive director of the hong kong american center. Glenn, thank you for joining us. My pleasure. President trump let asian leaders know with trade, America First. And these countries reached a trade deal without him basically, didnt they . In a sense, it shows the isolation of america from the trade agreements that he pulled out right at the beginning of the administration, it sent a shock through the region. And i think we want to have bilateral agreements, but these days, multinational corporations, the way the supply chains work, i mean, they need in a sense regional sort of coverage of these agreements. It didnt help these companies a lot just to have these bilateral because of the way in which pieces of shipments and movements. So, i think its really going to be a question whether the followup on this i mean, what does he mean about bilateral trade agreements . Will they engage with vietnam and say take a lot of the stuff from tpp, but well do it bilaterally. You know, vietnam is really set back. And its interesting now on this occasion, theyre putting this forward. I mean, they were much benefited. And they would have been much benefited by it. Question by the tpp 11 is that without the American Market in the picture, will it be compelling enough . Is there as much to gain for everybody if americas not in that package . Because a lot of what everybody wanted was access to the American Market. But now, globally, its very low, theres not a lot to gain more from lowering tariffs unless theres another round of trade conflict and they would go up. But basically, theres barely been a lowering of tariffs. Whats the challenge now is intellectual property and the questions about Investment Protection and what they call the barriers beyond the border. So trade negotiation is evolving. And America Needs to stay in that process. And just say were changing our philosophy. Were looking after balance and reciprocity. So were maybe not so much the nice guy that we used to be. We have to look after our own people, but in that context, we still want cooperation. We still want to Work Together in trade and economic growth. Yeah. And well see what advantage that gives the United States, if at all. What will you be looking for as far as what President Trump achieves there in hanoi . Well, i mean, this is a question if he has good optics, he has a good event, and it all looks good on the media, and he goes home and he looks at stuff, and, you know, will he follow up . I mean, will there be something that the leaders see as a change in american policy operationally . Or whether this was, as it were, a lot of talk. This is the question that everybody has laid. Hes been in office for a year. He said clearly, weve had terrible trade agreements. Now im here and im going to do it differently. Well, show me how it is different. How this is going to benefit the americans and also be of interest to the various countries. Now, some of these small countries working negotiating directly with america, i mean, they could be overshadowed. Yes, u. S. Could be at a great advantage. But longer term for the regional, sort of security of the region and american strategy in the region. Weve got to have something that draws people to us economically, and, you know, this is whats happening with china expanding and engaging in regional trade agreements. Theyre go to be rising in their influence over the economies of the region. And are we going to be shut out, even if it takes some time, if we get there . But this is a crucial moment. And hes got maybe another six months, a year, to demonstrate to these people what does America First mean in terms of bilateral trade agreements thats going to be good for them as well as the u. S. Very good. Thank you, glenn shive, thank you. Still here on newsroom, explosive allegations of Sexual Misconduct threatening to derail the candidacy for republicans for senate. Youll hear what reporters are saying. Were back with that. Youre watching cnn newsroom. Alright, off you go. Casual fridays at Buckingham Palace . Surprising. Whats not surprising . How much money nathan saved by switching to geico. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. Oh, look. Another antiwrinkle cream in no hurry to make anything happen. Neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair® works in just one week. With the fastest retinol formula available. Its clinically proven to work on fine lines and wrinkles. One week . That definitely works rapid wrinkle repair®. And for dark spots, rapid tone repair. Neutrogena®. See whats possible. Welcome back. Embattled Republican Senate candidate roy moore of alabama is pushing back against explosive allegations of Sexual Misconduct from decades ago. Moore says one womans accusation that he molested her when she was 14 years old was quote completely false and misleading. For now, many people in alabama who supported him in their recent primary seem to be sticking with him. Well get more from cnns Martin Savidge from alabama. Reporter roy moore, taking to conservative talk radio making a strong denial of accusations leveled against him including allegations of sexually abusing a 14yearold in 1979, first reported by the Washington Post. These allegations are completely false and misleading. But more than that, it hurts me personally because, you know, im a father. I have one daughter. I have five granddaughters. And i have a special concern for the protection of young ladies. This is really hard to get on the radio and explain this. These allegations are just completely false. Reporter moore says he has no recollection of his most serious accuser Leigh Corfman said when she was 14 and he was 32 he undressed and sexually abused her. I dont know miss corfman from anybody. I never had any talk with her. Allegations of Sexual Misconduct is completely false. Reporter one question looms, should moore continue on continue this quest for the u. S. Senate. Fellow republicans are divided. If thats true, thats bad. He needs to step out of the race, theres no question about it. Reporter moore is still finding support in his home state but in washington where hes hoping to take over Jeff Sessions senate seat, more than a dozen gop supporters saying if true, he should step aside. If true, he should step aside. Reporter the political scandal triggering reaction from President Trump halfway around the world. Speaking on air force one, White House Press secretary Sarah Sanders first giving the impression trump was supporting moore. The president believes that we cannot allow a mere allegation, in this case, one from many years ago to destroy a persons life. Rur but in the very next line however, the president also believes if the allegations are true, judge moore will do the right thing and step aside. Reporter moore himself is showing absolutely no indication of quitting. In a phone interview moores brother said his brothers accusers are either being paid or supporting the opponent. And then comparing moores political problems to the persecution of jesus christ. But the allegations remain with the shocking allegations impacting alabama voters . It depends who you talk to. Why didnt they come out seven, eight months ago when he was running. All of a sudden, two weeks now, theyre coming out. I believe its bs. Reporter those who know roy moore will tell you things, including first and foremost, hes not going to back down. And they do not expect the Republican Party to interfere or intervene in any way. What they do expect is that roy moore will win the senate seat in alabama in december. Martin savidge, cnn, gadsden, alabama. Martin, thank you for the reporting. We want to show you the reaction from this disturbing situation from other lawmakers. First, the republican member of the Alabama State house who strongly supports mr. Moore. It is disingenuous, in my opinion for 50 somethingyearold women to come forward, four weeks prior to a major senatorial election, you know, one of the most 100 most powerful people in the world that were going to elect in four weeks. And four weeks out, we have these allegations. No one in alabama has heard about. It surfaces, it just reeks of politics. If he had anything like this in his past, it would have come out by now. And here we are, right before a huge election, with National Implications between a republican and a democrat, all of a sudden, this is front page news. This is headline news. And im not buying it. It is political. It is political at every level. Ed henry there in an interview earlier with my colleague anderson cooper. Now, u. S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of minnesota recently released legislation requiring Sexual Harassment training. In the senate, heres her response to it all. I think when you have someone in this kind of a prominent race as was pointed out earlier on your program, people decide it matters to come forward. And they make that choice. And it didnt mean it didnt happen. In fact, it seems to me these are pretty documented stories with someone with a News Organization as republic kabul as the post that are running them. So, to me, it just means the stakes are higher. And maybe, you know, when you see women across the country are coming out and speaking out about whats happened to them and harassment and sexual abuse and things like that, theres also been a change in this country. A change where women are willing to stand up and speak. Lets now bring in steven you are urlinger in brussels. Is there some allegation that voters will stick by moore no matter what, obviously, conversely, there are those who will vote against him and support his opponent. But does this come down to people in the middle to determine this particular race or does he have enough support from diehard supporters to win . Well, roy moore is a very conservative man. What one needs to remember, he was elected twice to be head of the Supreme Court in alabama. And twice had to step down. Once because he put a statue of the Ten Commandments outside the courthouse and refused to remove them. And then he was reelected. And then refused to follow through on samesex marriages. So, thats removed. So, he has a very, very devout right wing