Obama to travel to Asia, refocus on most ‘rapidly growing region’

The three-nation Asia trip by the US President Barack Obama is part of his effort to refocus in the most “rapidly growing and dynamic” region of the world, the White House has said.

“The President’s trip to Asia will be an opportunity to build on our successful efforts to refocus on the Asia-Pacific as the most rapidly growing and dynamic region in the world,” the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told presspersons at a news conference yesterday.

Later this month, Obama would travel to Thailand, Cambodia and Burma. Simultaneously, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Defence Secretary Leon Panetta would also be in the region; which is reflective of the importance being attached to the Asia-Pacific region by the Obama Administration.

“And as he (Obama) did last year, the President will focus on expanding US trade and economic ties in the region, supporting democracy and human rights, and working through regional institutions to ensure that nations abide by the rules of the road,” he said.

“Now, you know, as part of his broader agenda, the President has focused on expanding our presence in Asia. The positive economic impact of doing that will be felt for years to come and is elemental to the kind of economic growth that this President foresees for the American economy in the 21st century. So this is important work that needs to be done,” Carney said.

During the visit, the US President would participate in the East Asia Summit and a meeting with the Association of the South-East Nations.

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