FACTBOX-Obama has busy itinerary on whirlwind Asian tour
12 Nov 2009 13:00:18 GMT Source: Reuters
Nov 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama leaves on Thursday on his first Asian tour since taking office on Jan. 20. Here is a preliminary itinerary for his trip, according to White House aides: NOV. 12 - Obama leaves Washington, and stops in Alaska to meet with troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base. NOV. 13-14 - TOKYO Obama arrives in Tokyo on Nov. 13, and holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at about 7 p.m. local time (1000 GMT), followed by a joint press conference. On Nov. 14, Obama will make a major speech at Suntory Hall in Tokyo at 10 a.m. (0100 GMT), 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 Nov. 14. On Nov. 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. (0600 GMT) 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 Nov. 15, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. NOV. 15-18 - SHANGHAI and BEIJING Obama travels to Shanghai the evening of Nov. 15. On Monday, Nov. 16, he will meet with the city's mayor, and then hold an event in which he will meet Chinese youth, speaking to them, taking questions and hearing directly from them. He travels to Beijing Monday evening, and will have dinner with President Hu Jintao. On Nov. 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 Nov. 18, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and do more sightseeing before traveling to South Korea. NOV. 18-19 - SEOUL Obama arrives in Seoul the night of Nov. 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 Nov. 20. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Eric Walsh)
A man walks on the Great Wall of China during a heavy snowfall on the outskirts of Beijing November 12, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Lee(CHINA SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT) ...
