President Obama landed in Tokyo on the first of an eight day trip to Asia, his first to the region as President. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, Ben Rhodes laid out the itinerary for the trip. The President will meet with Japan's Prime Minister and will meet the Emperor and Empress of Japan during his trip to Tokyo. After Japan, the President will visit Singapore where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
After Singapore, the President will visit China where he will meet with President Hu. The trip to China will mark the first time Obama has visited that country. China is integral to the economic future of not only the U.S. and China but the world's economy. The President will visit both Shanghai and Bejiing. Though much of the trip to Asia will be taken up with meetings with Asian leaders, President Obama will host a 'town hall' style meeting in Shanghai and go on a sight seeing tour of Beijing.
The last stop on the Asian tour will be in Seoul, South Korea.
President Obama's trip to Asia has more than one purpose. Besides talks on trade between the U.S. and Asia, as well as future economic ties, President Obama plans to talk with leaders of the region about nuclear disarmament and will meet with the President of China as well as the President of Russia.
President Obama's itinerary includes talks about climate change. Rhodes pointed out that the U.S. has strong energy partnerships with some of these countries in preparation for the Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen.
On the itinerary is a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia. President Obama spent four years of his childhood in Indonesia (1967-1971).
According to Jeffrey Bader, the National Security Council's senior director for East Asian Affairs, the President plans to let President Hu of China know that he will be meeting with the Dalai Lama in the near future. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet and China opposes allowing Tibet autonomy from China. Earlier this year, President Obama refused to meet with the Dalai Lama, the first president to do so since 1991 according to the Christian Science Monitor.
Comments
I still try not to buy anything made in China. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE, though. I especially steer clear of food made in China.
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