
Washington: President Donald Trump would
reaffirm the American leadership in promoting a free and open
Indo-Pacific region during his maiden trip to Asia next month,
the White House has said.
Ten months into the world's most powerful executive
office, the US president would embark on a two-week-long trip
to Asia.
"The president's travel is going to underscore his
commitment to longstanding United States alliances and
partnerships and reaffirm the United States leadership in
promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," a senior
administration official told reporters in a preview of the
trip.
Trump himself told reporters in a joint media appearance
with the visiting Prime Minister of Singapore that he is
looking forward to his trip to Asia from November 3 to 14.
"This trip will be the president's longest to date,
underscoring the importance that he places on the Indo-Pacific
region," the senior administration official said.
While his visits to Japan, South Korea and China, are
bilateral one, during his stops in Vietnam and the
Philippines, Trump will be participating in the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation Summit and the US ASEAN Summit.
In Vietnam and Philippines, Trump also plans to hold
bilateral and tri-lateral meetings with other world leaders,
details of which are still being worked out.
Trump would embark on his Indo-Pacific sojourn on
November 3 via Hawaii wherein he will receive a briefing from
the US Pacific Command.
He will also visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona
Memorial. The president will officially commence his visit to Asia
beginning with Japan on November 5.
In Japan, "he is going to affirm the US-Japan Alliance as
the cornerstone for regional peace and security," the official
said adding that he will focus on ways for the US and Japan to
work together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.
During his state visit to South Korea on November 7,
Trump will participate in bilateral meetings with President
Moon Jae-in and also visit American and South Korean service
members.
The next day, he will speak at the National Assembly in
Korea, where he will celebrate the enduring alliance and
friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea
and call on the international community to join together in
maximising pressure on North Korea.
Trump is likely to highlight the enduring strength of the
US-South Korea alliance, which is stronger than ever in the
face of North Korean aggression, the official said.
Trump would fly to Beijing the next day for a series of
bilateral, commercial and cultural events including meetings
with President Xi Jinping.
"I anticipate that the president will seek to secure
China's commitments to exert more pressure on North Korea and
to rebalance our economic relations.
The visit will send a clear message that for bilateral
economic relations to be sustainable over the long term, China
must provide fair and reciprocal treatment to US firms and
cease predatory trade and investment practices," the official
said.
The president will then travel to Da Nang in Vietnam on
November 10, where he will participate in the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation APEC, economic leaders meeting and
deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit.
"In the speech, Trump will present the United States
commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and
underscore the important role the region plays in advancing
America's economic prosperity," the official said adding that
Trump's engagements at APEC will reinforce the US commitment
to an equitable, sustainable and rules-based international
economic system based on market principles.
On November 11, Trump will travel to Hanoi, where he's
going to have an official visit and bilateral engagements with
President Tran Dai Quang and other senior Vietnamese leaders.
President Trump will arrive in Manila in Philippines on
November 12, to participate in special gala celebration dinner
for the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations.
The next day on November 13, the president will celebrate
the 40th anniversary of the US-ASEAN relations at the US-ASEAN
Summit, and will participate in bilateral meetings with
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.
"The president's participation in ASEAN events will
advance US leadership, promoting Indo-Pacific trade and
security architecture that's based on freedom and openness and
adherence to the rule of law," the official said.