Obama heads to Asia next week

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Renewing alliances and forging new partnerships are key goals for U.S. President Barack Obama when he makes his first trip to Asia, a senior official said.

"(The) president looks forward to this attempt to really renew America's alliances in the region, to continue to forge new partnerships, and to make progress on a whole series of issues," including economic recovery, Afghanistan, energy and climate change, and nuclear non-proliferation, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser, said during a briefing.

The trip starts Nov. 12 with a visit to troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska before Obama's first Asian stop in Tokyo Nov. 13, Rhodes said during a briefing Monday. Obama will meet with several leaders bilaterally in Asian cities, as well as participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Among the cities Obama is scheduled to visit are Singapore and Beijing.

While attending the APEC summit, Obama will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Rhodes said.

After a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Seoul Nov. 19, Obama will return to the United States.