Who's touring Asia with Obama

President Obama left Thursday for Asia -- but he isn't the only government official headed there.

Several Cabinet secretaries and other top administration officials will be along for at least part of the ride. The president is scheduled to arrive in Japan on Friday and then plans to go to the APEC Conference in Singapore on Saturday. From there, he's scheduled to go to China on Sunday and will arrive in South Korea next Wednesday before returning home.

Here's a breakdown of the packed schedules for members of his Cabinet:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: She started at the APEC ministerial meetings then flew to Manila Thursday for a two-day visit before going back to the APEC meetings. Clinton will also travel with Obama to China and South Korea.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner: He's already been to Japan and told Asian leaders in Singapore on Thursday that the Obama administration is committed to a strong dollar. He'll join Obama at the APEC meetings in Singapore.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke: He'll join Clinton in Singapore for the APEC Conference's ministerial meetings. He, too, will travel to Beijing with Obama. Locke, the nation's first Chinese American governor (in Washington state), is a bit of a rock star in China and has close relations with several government and business leaders there.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu: He is visiting India to discuss clean energy efforts before joining Obama in China as part of the official White House delegation. Chu and Locke went to China last month to sort out some details before Obama's arrival.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk: Will attend the APEC meetings and speak at its CEO summit on Saturday in place of Obama. He also will travel with the president to China.

Follow President Obama's schedule with The Post's POTUS Tracker

Comments

Obama needs all the help he can get. He is in way over his naive head. The Chinese will eat him up like Dim Sum. The Japanese have their own ways of dealing with Americans. Anyone who has dealt with Japanese businessmen know that. Obama has no training or experience to deal with them either. Putin got the best of him too.

We have a Chicago community organizer masquerading as an experience foreign policy expert. He had better listen to Hillary. She knows when to bow and when not to kiss rings on the finger of Saudi Kings.

Posted by: mharwick | November 13, 2009 3:03 AM | Report abuse