The three say that Mr Kabila invited them in under a regional defence pact.

ECONOMIST: Congo

Baer said the U.S. will "continue to make its case firmly" to Hanoi on various rights concerns, and will also raise Internet freedom and labor conditions in negotiations on the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade pact that involves Vietnam.

NPR: US: Vietnam Backsliding On Human Rights

Massachusetts Democratic Governor-elect Deval Patrick wants to rejoin a regional greenhouse gas pact that current Republican Governor Willard (Mitt) Romney spurned.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In Indonesia, textile, furniture and electronics manufacturers are shouting about imports from China that followed the lifting of tariffs in a regional free-trade pact.

WSJ: China Trade Rise Prompts Shifts Around the Globe

Asean countries and China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand have also launched negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, which seeks to strengthen regional trade.

BBC: Obama at Asean summit urges nations to ease sea rows

Regional players MetroPCS and Leap Wireless announced a roaming pact that allows them to compete more effectively with national carriers.

WSJ: Newly Budget-Minded Turn to Prepaid Phones

Intra-regional free trade agreements such as Mercosur and the proposed pact involving Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Peru tend to enhance economic growth for all the participants.

FORBES: South American Companies Look Forward To Chinese Dominance

The national security pact was signed by prosecutors and leaders from across the political and regional spectrum.

BBC: Mexico to combat rising violence

The PNV regional government, led by Juan Jose Ibarretxe, has been governing in minority since last year after suspending a parliamentary pact with Euskal Herritarrok (EH) - widely considered to be ETA's political wing.

CNN: Basque voters urged to reject ETA