Obama will travel first to Japan, Nov. 13-14, then to Singapore, Nov. 14-15, China, Nov. 15-18, South Korea, Nov. 18-19. He'll give a speech (see details below) in Tokyo on Nov. 14:
President Barack Obama will travel to Asia from November 13 -19 to strengthen U.S. cooperation with this growing center of global power. A long list of issues crowds the U.S. policy agenda in the region: security, economic, environment, and energy among others.
Denuclearization of North Korea, China's holding of U.S. debt, the realignment of U.S. security forces in Japan, and international agreements on trade and climate change may pose challenges to the president as he tours the region.
For the president's first stop, in Tokyo, CFR's Senior Fellow for Japan Studies Sheila Smith lays out an agenda for revitalizing the U.S. relationship with a new Japanese government. Southeast Asia Fellow Joshua Kurlantzick stresses the need for greater trade liberalization at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Singapore.
CFR's Director of Asia Studies Elizabeth Economy advises Obama to listen to a range of Chinese voices beyond those of Communist party leaders while he's in China, and CFR's Scott Snyder says regional security issues as well as coordination of response to the global financial crisis will be on the Seoul agenda.
Ahead of the president's trip, a new Council Special Report urges the administration to play a more strategic role in the changing landscape of Asian multilateral organizations. It also calls for the United States to have more vigorous economic engagement with the region. More at CFR
Detailed travel schedule:
NOV. 12 - Obama leaves Washington, and stops in Alaska to meet with troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base.
November 13-14 - TOKYO
Obama arrives in Tokyo on November 13, and holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at about 7 p.m. local time (5 a.m. EST), followed by a joint press conference.
On November 14, Obama will make a major speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo at 10 a.m. local time, in which he will discuss his view of U.S. engagement in Asia and reaffirm the strength of Washington's alliance with Japan.
Later in the day, Obama will meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
NOV 14-15 - SINGAPORE
Obama travels to Singapore the evening of November 14.
On November 15, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then go to the leaders meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
At about 2 p.m. local time the same day, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and then hold what the White House says is the first meeting between a U.S. president and all 10 leaders of the 10 Southeast Asian countries that make up ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Finally on November 15, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
November 15-18 - SHANGHAI and BEIJING
Obama travels to Shanghai the evening of November 15.
On Monday, November 16, he will meet with the city's mayor, and then hold an event in which he will have a dialogue with Chinese youth, speaking to them, taking questions and hearing directly from them. He travel to Beijing Monday evening, and will have dinner with President Hu Jintao.
On November 17, Obama will hold a bilateral with Hu, followed by a joint press conference, after which he will sightsee in Beijing. There will be a state dinner that night.
On November 18, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and do more sightseeing, before traveling to South Korea.
November 18-19 - SEOUL
Obama arrives in Seoul the night of November 18. The morning of the 19th, he holds a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, after which the two will hold a press conference.
Obama will then meet with U.S. troops stationed in Korea, before leaving on his trip back to the United States, where he is scheduled to arrive early on November 20. Reuters
