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President Plans Trip To Guam, Australia, and Indonesia

The President is planning an overseas trip March 22-26th, 2010 to the Asia-Pacific areas of Guam, Australia, and Indonesia in an effort "to advance America's security and economic interests in a very vital part of the world".

"America has been somewhat absent from the region over the last several years and we are committed to reestablishing that leadership in advance of our interests", said President Obama.

Among the economic interests the president will focus on include doubling exports and achieving balanced and sustainable growth or fighting terrorism and combating climate change.

The president is also planning visits to Bali, and Canberra, and then on to Australia where he'll have talks with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

"We have very robust cooperation with the Australians on security issues, economic issues, environmental issues. They’re obviously a close partner of us in Afghanistan, where they’ve been steadfast in their support there. We run a very positive trade relationship with Australia that supports American jobs and supports economic prosperity for both Australians and Americans. And of course, we’ve cooperated closely on clean energy issues and efforts to combat climate change", said Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications yesterday in a press briefing via conference call.

Both Indonesia and Australia are US partners participating in common G20 issues.


**Update** The president's trip has been postponed until June, 2010 while he continues to work with Congress on the health care reform bill, which is expected to pass next week.

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